Method and apparatus for automatic software development for a group of controller-based devices

• US 10,095,495 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciambella Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ciambella Ltd.
• Inventors: Leonelli, Jean-Baptiste, Chandaria, Trisala
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr., Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gooray, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US15/148,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20160328216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/447 Target code generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic generation of software for controller-based devices in a group is provided. The method comprises receiving, for a controller-based device from a plurality of controller-based devices displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) on a user device, a selection of a controller type, a communication protocol to be used for communicating with another controller-based device in a group of controller-based devices, the group comprising the plurality of controller-based devices, and a function to be performed based on a remote call from the controller-based device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for automatic generation of a program for a controller-based device in a group of controller-based devices, comprising:

receiving, at a code virtualization server (CVS), from a user device, for a controller-based device from a plurality of controller-based devices displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) on the user device, a selection comprising;

a controller type of the controller-based device,

a communication protocol to be used by the controller-based device for communicating with another controller-based device in a group of controller-based devices, the group comprising the plurality of controller-based devices, and

a function to be performed on the CVS based on a remote call from the controller-based device to the CVS;

automatically generating, on the CVS, a first code for execution on the controller-based device, the first code based on the controller type, the communication protocol, and the function,

wherein the first code comprises the remote call for performing the function on the CVS, and capable of routing the remote call from the controller-based device to the CVS;

dispatching the first code to the controller-based device for installation on the controller-based device;

receiving the remote call from the first code installed on the controller-based device; and

executing a second code including one or more predefined processes on the CVS based on receiving the remote call,

wherein each of the user device, the CVS and the controller-based device is remote from each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each controller-based device is either an edge device or a gateway device, and wherein the group comprises either at least one edge device and at least one gateway device, or at least two gateway devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first code routes the remote call through the at least one gateway device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving, from the GUI, a selection of whether the controller-based device is an edge device or a gateway device, and wherein the generating the first code is further based on the selection of the edge device or the gateway device.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving the remote call from the controller-based device via the at least one gateway device; and

performing the function.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispatching the first code for installation on the controller-based device directly or via the user device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the GUI, at least one parameter for performing the function, and wherein the generating the first code is further based on the at least one parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is repeated for all controller-based devices of the group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller type is at least one of AVR, ARM, or PIC, wherein the communication protocol comprises at least one of HTTP, HTTPS, TCP/IP, MQTT, CoAP, LoRa, ZigBee, Thread, Z-WAVE, or 6LOWPAN, and wherein the function is one of a text message, a voice call, a video call, an internal data source, or an Internet based service.

10. An apparatus for automatic software development for a group of controller-based devices, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising executable instructions, which when executed using the processor, cause execution of a method comprising;

receiving, at a code virtualization server (CVS), from a user device, for a controller-based device from a plurality of controller-based devices displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) on a user device, a selection comprising;

a controller type of the controller-based device,

a communication protocol to be used by the controller-based device for communicating with another controller-based device in a group of controller-based devices, the group comprising the plurality of controller-based devices, and

a function to be performed on the CVS based on a remote call from the controller-based device to the CVS,

automatically generating, on the CVS, a first code for execution on the controller-based device, the first code based on the controller type, the communication protocol, and the function,

wherein the first code comprises the remote call for performing the function on the CVS, and capable of routing the remote call from the controller-based device to the CVS,

dispatching the first code to the controller-based device for installation on the controller-based device;

receiving the remote call from the first code installed on the controller-based device, and

executing a second code including one or more predefined processes on the CVS based on receiving the remote call,

wherein each of the user device, the CVS and the controller-based device is remote from each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each controller-based device is either an edge device or a gateway device, and wherein the group comprises either at least one edge device and at least one gateway device, or at least two gateway device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first code routes the remote call through the at least one gateway device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises further comprising receiving, from the GUI, a selection of whether the controller-based device is an edge device or a gateway device, and wherein the generating the first code is further based on the selection of the edge device or the gateway device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the remote call from the controller-based device via the at least one gateway device; and

performing the function.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises dispatching the first code for installation on the controller-based device directly or via the user device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises receiving, from the GUI, at least one parameter for performing the function, and wherein the generating the first code is further based on the at least one parameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the method is repeated for all controller-based devices of the group.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller type is at least one of AVR, ARM, or PIC, wherein the communication protocol comprises at least one of HTTP, HTTPS, TCP/IP, MQTT, CoAP, LoRa, ZigBee, Thread, Z-WAVE, or 6LOWPAN and wherein the function is one of a text message, a voice call, a video call, an internal data source, or an Internet based service.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform a method for automatic generation of a program for a controller-based device in a group of controller-based devices, comprising:

displaying a plurality of controller-based devices from the group of controller-based devices on a graphical user interface (GUI) on a user device;

receiving, at a code virtualization server (CVS), from the user device, for a controller-based device from the group, a selection comprising;

a controller type of the controller-based device, a communication protocol to be used by the controller-based device for communicating with another controller-based device in the group, and

a function to be performed, on the code virtualization server (CVS), based on a remote call from the controller-based device to the CVS;

automatically generating, on the CVS, a first code for execution on the controller-based device, the first code based on the controller type, the communication protocol, and the function,

wherein the first code comprises the remote call for performing the function on the CVS, and capable of routing the remote call from the controller-based device to the CVS,

dispatching the first code to the controller-based device for installation on the controller-based device;

receiving the remote call from the first code installed on the controller-based device; and

executing a second code including one or more predefined processes on the CVS based on receiving the remote call,

wherein each of the user device, the CVS and the controller-based device is remote from each other.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving a selection or an input of parameters for performing the function, and

sending the selection or the input to the code virtualization server.