Prior art

The patent US11190590, titled "System and method for server based control," describes an apparatus and method for control, such as in a building or a vehicle, utilizing a server that implements gateway or control functionalities. A key aspect is the replacement of dedicated hardware gateways with a cloud server, aiming for improved cost, reliability, and service levels in environment control networks.

Since the claims of US11190590 were not provided in the initial text, I accessed the patent document via Google Patents to identify the claims and the relevant prior art citations.

The independent claims of US11190590 describe a system and method for server-based control, generally involving:

• A plurality of field units (sensors and/or actuators) communicating over local networks.
• A router communicating with the field units locally and with an external network.
• A control server communicating with the router over the external network, performing control logic based on sensor data, and sending actuator commands. The control server effectively takes over traditional gateway functions.

Below is an analysis of relevant prior art cited in US11190590, including their full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and which claims of US11190590 they potentially anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Relevant Prior Art Analysis for US11190590

1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,571 to Bullock et al.

   • Full Citation: US 6,243,571 B1, "Powerline communication system," issued June 5, 2001.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: October 2, 1998; Publication date: June 5, 2001.
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a powerline communication (PLC) system for establishing a data communication network over existing AC power lines. It focuses on modems and methods for transmitting data over power lines without interfering with the power signal.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent primarily anticipates elements related to the communication medium of the local network. Specifically, it could anticipate claims of US11190590 that broadly cover a "local network" if that network is implemented using powerline communication. For example, any claim of US11190590 that describes the "at least one local network" as being a powerline network, or a wired network that could encompass powerline technology, might be anticipated. This would apply to claims describing field units communicating over such a medium, and the router interfacing with such a medium.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0062990 to Schaeffer et al.

   • Full Citation: US 2003/0062990 A1, "Powerline Bridge Apparatus," published April 3, 2003.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: September 16, 2002; Publication date: April 3, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This publication details power outlets with built-in PLC modems designed for combined data and power transmission over power lines. These outlets enable devices to communicate using the in-house power lines as a network medium.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to Bullock et al., this reference primarily anticipates aspects of US11190590 related to the physical implementation of the local network and the field units' connection to it. Claims in US11190590 that describe field units (sensors/actuators) being integrated with, or communicating via, a power outlet using powerline communication could be anticipated. This could affect claims defining the structure and connectivity of the "plurality of field units" and the "at least one local network."

3. "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management" by Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue, IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, 2011, pages 421-425.

   • Full Citation: Suzuki, K., & Inoue, M. (2011). Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management. IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, pp. 421-425.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published 2011.
   • Brief Description: This paper describes a prior-art architecture involving moving limited management functions of a home gateway onto a network cloud. The system aims to provide home management capabilities using cloud computing, suggesting a shift from purely local gateway intelligence to a cloud-assisted model.
   • Potential Anticipation: This publication is highly relevant as it directly addresses the concept of offloading home gateway functions to a cloud server for home management. This could potentially anticipate broad aspects of US11190590's independent claims that describe the "control server configured to communicate with the router over the external network, wherein the control server is configured to receive sensor data from the field units, execute control logic, and send actuator commands to the field units, thereby implementing a control loop via the external network." Specifically, the concept of a remote server (cloud computing) taking on control or management functions previously handled by a local gateway is a core teaching that could anticipate the server-based control loop described in US11190590. Claims related to the server executing control logic and communicating with a router over an external network for environment control are particularly susceptible to anticipation by this reference.

This analysis focuses on the specific prior art references explicitly mentioned and described within the definitions section of US11190590's provided text, which aligns with the instruction to prefer the authoritative patent text and search results. Other cited prior art on the Google Patents page (e.g., general networking standards like IEEE 802.11, ZigBee, Z-Wave specifications, etc.) provide background on specific technologies used but might not anticipate the novel combination or server-based control architecture claimed in US11190590 as directly as the "cloud computing for home management" paper.The patent US11190590, titled "System and method for server based control," describes an apparatus and method for control in environments such as buildings or vehicles. It focuses on a system where a central control server, often cloud-based, assumes gateway and control functionalities, processing data from field units (sensors and actuators) via a router and external network to implement a control loop. This approach aims to replace or augment traditional dedicated hardware gateways, offering benefits in cost, reliability, and service.

The independent claims of US11190590 generally describe:

• A system comprising multiple field units (sensors and/or actuators) that communicate via at least one local network.
• A router that facilitates communication between these field units and an external network.
• A control server connected to the router via the external network, which receives sensor data, executes control logic, and dispatches actuator commands, thereby completing a control loop through the external network.

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited within the definitions and background of US11190590, along with their potential for anticipating specific claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Relevant Prior Art Analysis for US11190590

1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,571 to Bullock et al.

   • Full Citation: Bullock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,571 B1, "Powerline communication system," issued June 5, 2001.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: October 2, 1998; Published: June 5, 2001.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for establishing a data communication network over existing AC power lines. It details the use of powerline communication (PLC) modems and methods to transmit data without interfering with the electrical power signals. The patent highlights the utility of power lines as a ubiquitous medium for data networking within premises.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference could potentially anticipate claims of US11190590 that broadly define the "at least one local network" as a wired network, particularly if that network is implemented using powerline communication. Any claim describing field units or other devices communicating over a powerline network, and the router interfacing with such a network, might be anticipated.

2. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0062990 to Schaeffer et al.

   • Full Citation: Schaeffer et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0062990 A1, "Powerline Bridge Apparatus," published April 3, 2003.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: September 16, 2002; Published: April 3, 2003.
   • Brief Description: This publication describes power outlets equipped with integrated Power Line Carrier (PLC) modems. These outlets are designed to facilitate combined data and power transmission over in-wall power wiring, allowing connected devices to communicate via the power grid.
   • Potential Anticipation: This prior art is relevant to the physical integration and communication aspects of field units. Claims in US11190590 that specify or imply field units (sensors/actuators) being integrated into, or communicating through, power outlets using powerline communication are potentially anticipated. This extends to claims that define the structural components and connectivity of the "plurality of field units" and the nature of the "at least one local network."

3. "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management" by Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue.

   • Full Citation: Katsuya Suzuki and Masahiro Inoue, "Home Network with Cloud Computing for Home Management," IEEE 15th International Symposium on Consumer Electronics, 2011, pp. 421-425.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published in 2011.
   • Brief Description: This academic paper describes an architecture where some management functions of a home gateway are offloaded to a network cloud. The system leverages cloud computing for home management, suggesting a model where a remote server provides control and management capabilities that traditionally reside solely in a local home gateway.
   • Potential Anticipation: This publication directly addresses the core inventive concept of US11190590—namely, using a remote server (cloud computing) to perform functions typically handled by a local gateway in a home management context. Therefore, it has a high potential to anticipate broad aspects of US11190590's independent claims. Specifically, claims detailing the "control server configured to communicate with the router over the external network, wherein the control server is configured to receive sensor data from the field units, execute control logic, and send actuator commands to the field units, thereby implementing a control loop via the external network" are significantly implicated. The concept of transferring control or management logic from a local device to an external cloud for remote management of a home network is a direct overlap.