Echelon Receives Patent for Ease of Configuration and Use in Connecting 'Communities of Devices' into the Internet of Things

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON), the world's leading control networking technology provider, today announced that its Interoperable Self-Installation (ISI) technology, an innovative, simple way to install and configure communities of devices on a control network – which increasingly comprise the Internet of Things (IoT) – was awarded U.S. Patent number 8,374,104. Echelon has implemented ISI in its products, and Echelon customers have created commercial offerings based on the now-patented technology.

ISI dramatically simplifies the configuration tasks associated with creating 'communities of devices' – including everyday digital devices that are interconnected over a network and that perform common tasks. A community of devices is one that shares information and decision-making locally on a peer-to-peer basis, and that may or may not connect to the Internet.

"Within the overall Internet of Things category, millions of simple legacy devices are being overlooked, and it's these communities of devices where Echelon is focused with our ISI technology," said Varun Nagaraj, senior vice president and general manager, Echelon. "People don't want to perform configuration and management duties for their light switches, HVAC or security systems, nor do these systems require complex Internet-based applications to perform useful tasks automatically. Echelon's ISI technology allows a community of devices such as an energy management system and solar power monitoring system to communicate directly, with little or no consumer involvement and without using the Internet. ISI manages the connections so the devices recognize each other, find their own 'place' on the network and don't interfere with each other."

For example, a user may wish to create a community of devices in a building that includes light fixtures, switches and motion sensors. With ISI, the user can simply use physical push buttons on the devices themselves, virtual buttons on a centralized application, or automatic installation processes to connect, configure and control the devices, without the need for extensive training.

"ISI provides a simple, easy-to-operate method for registering devices developed by System Level Solutions (SLS) Corporation, such as our In-Home Controller and lamp and appliance modules, into the Echelon ecosystem," said Paresh Patel, president and CEO at SLS, an Echelon customer that is incorporating ISI technology into products it sells to consumers. "The ease of use and reliability provided by the ISI technology enhances our product value to the end user. In just a few minutes, a user can add a new device and start using it without worrying about what's going on underneath. It just works!"

The newly patented ISI technology is a consequence of Echelon's 20 years of experience with device networking. Echelon sees the Internet of Things as comprising both devices that connect directly to the Internet via the IP protocols, as well as communities of devices that communicate and make decisions among themselves. These communities of devices will operate quickly, securely and reliably within a confined area, and they must be able to scale to thousands and tens of thousands of units. These communities of devices can then participate in the Internet of Things – but only if communities of devices are easy to configure and manage, with no training and minimum documentation.

"Echelon has spent the last few years advancing our LonWorks protocols for energy grid applications, and now we're adding IPv6 support to enable legacy control networks to share information via the Internet," said Nagaraj. "By expanding beyond LonWorks to embrace multiple protocols, including BACnet in the building automation space and others in lighting controls – and by encouraging adoption of our ISI technology to simplify installation and configuration in communities of devices – we can help our customers migrate more flexibly and easily to the Internet of Things."

The newly issued patent, entitled "Simple Installation of Devices on a Network," was granted to Echelon employees Rich Blomseth and Bernd Gauweiler.

Implementation of the ISI Technology

Echelon's patented ISI technology is supported in three of its tools – the NodeBuilder Development Tool, the ShortStack Developer's Kit and the LonBridge Server – and in its PL 3170 Smart Transceiver chip. Customers using Echelon's patented ISI technology include:

• CyboSoft and CyboEnergy developed the world's first ISI-powered solar monitoring system, which dramatically simplifies the task of installing solar power systems with mini-inverters.
• e-controls uses the ISI protocol in its commercial building and home indoor lighting control solution, which can be easily integrated into larger building or home control networks.
• SLS Corporation uses ISI to create easy-to-install and easy-to-use in-home controllers and lamp and appliance modules. These provide dimming; on and off; monitoring and reporting of energy usage; and mobile phone or local display to monitor the system.

About Echelon Corporation

Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) is an energy control networking company, with the world's most widely deployed proven, open-standard, multi-application platform, selling complete systems and embedded sub-systems for smart grid, smart city and smart building applications. Echelon's platform is embedded in more than 100 million devices, 35 million homes and 300,000 buildings, and it powers energy savings applications for smart grids, smart cities and smart buildings. Echelon helps its customers reduce operational costs, enhance satisfaction and safety, grow revenues and prepare for a dynamic future. More information can be found at www.echelon.com.

Visit the Smart Energy Blog by Echelon.

Echelon and the Echelon logo are registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release may contain statements relating to future plans, events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with market acceptance of Echelon's ISI technology by itself or combined with other applications or offerings, the risk that Echelon's offerings by themselves or combined with other applications or offerings do not perform as designed or do not offer the expected benefits, and other risks identified in Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:
Colleen Martell
+1 (408) 832-0147
[email protected]

SOURCE Echelon Corporation

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED