Context-aware controlling of multiple systems of controllable devices

• US 10,142,838 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Garcia Morchon, Oscar, Ma, Fulong, Sharma, Sahil
• Primary Examiner(s): Dada, Beemnet W
• Application Number:
  US15/501,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for enabling a controller configured for controlling devices of a first system via a first backend to control devices of a second system via a second backend. The method, performed by the second backend, includes receiving, from the first backend, location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of a user of the controller, receiving, from a source trusted by the second backend, location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of the user, and performing context matching to enable the controller to control the devices of the second system by comparing the location information received from the first backend with the location information received from the source trusted by the second backend and by comparing the credentials received from the first backend with the credentials received from the source trusted by the second backend.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a controller that is configured for controlling one or more devices of a first system via a first control system backend to also control one or more devices of a second system via a second control system backend, the method comprising:

receiving, at the second control system backend, from the first control system backend, location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of a user of the controller as available to the first control system backend;

receiving, at the second control system backend, from a source trusted by the second control system backend, location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of the user;

performing, at the second control system backend, context matching to enable the controller to control the one or more devices of the second system, wherein the context matching comprises comparing the location information received from the first control system backend with the location information received from the source trusted by the second control system backend and by comparing the credentials received from the first control system backend with the credentials received from the source trusted by the second control system backend.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein enabling the controller of the user to control the one or more devices of the second system comprises establishing access rights for the controller, the access rights identifying which devices of the one or more devices of the second system the controller is allowed to control.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2, wherein enabling the controller of the user to control the one or more devices of the second system comprises establishing an access period, the access period identifying one or more time periods during which the controller is allowed to control the one or more devices of the second system.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the second control system backend, from the first control system backend, a control command to control the one or more devices of the second system;

determining, by the second control system backend, whether the user is within an infrastructure in which the second system is deployed;

determining, by the second control system backend, whether the control command is allowed according to the outcome of the context matching; and

upon positive determinations, the second control system backend providing the control command, or a derivative thereof, to the one or more devices of the second system.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising providing, from the second control system backend, to the first control system backend, access credentials enabling the controller to securely provide one or more control commands to the second control system backend, the one or more control commands being one or more commands for controlling the one or more devices of the second system.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 5, further comprising providing, from the second control system backend, to the first control system backend, information enabling the controller to identify and/or individually address the one or more devices of the second system.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, at the second control system backend, from the controller, a control command to control the one or more devices of the second system;

determining, by the second control system backend, whether the control command is in accordance with the access credentials provided by the second control system backend to the first control system backend; and

upon positive determination, the second control system backend providing the control command, or a derivative thereof, to the one or more devices of the second system.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform steps for enabling a controller that is configured for controlling one or more devices of a first system via a first control system backend to also control one or more devices of a second system via a second control system backend, the steps comprising:

receiving, at the second control system backend, from the first control system backend, location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of a user of the controller as available to the first control system backend;

receiving, at the second control system backend, from a source trusted by the second control system backend, location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of the user;

performing, at the second control system backend, context matching to enable the controller to control the one or more devices of the second system, wherein the context matching comprises comparing the location information received from the first control system backend with the location information received from the source trusted by the second control system backend and by comparing the credentials received from the first control system backend with the credentials received from the source trusted by the second control system backend.

9. A second control system backend for enabling a controller configured for controlling, via a first control system backend, one or more devices of a first system to control one or more devices of a second system, the second control system backend configured to:

receive from the first control system backend location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of a user of the controller as available to the first control system backend;

receive from a source trusted by the second control system backend location information of the controller and credentials of the controller or/and of the user; and

perform context matching to enable the controller to control the one or more devices of the second system, wherein the context matching comprises comparing the location information received from the first control system backend with the location information received from the source trusted by the second control system backend and by comparing the credentials received from the first control system backend with the credentials received from the source trusted by the second control system backend.

10. The first control system backend according to claim 9 for the first control system backend further configured to:

receive, from the second control system backend, information enabling the controller to identify and/or individually address the one or more devices of the second system; and

provide the information received from the second control system backend to the controller.

11. The second control system backend according to claim 9, wherein enabling the controller of the user to control the one or more devices of the second system comprises establishing access rights for the controller, the access rights identifying which devices of the one or more devices of the second system the controller is allowed to control.

12. The second control system backend according to claim 9, which is further configured to:

receive, from the first control system backend, a control command to control the one or more devices of the second system;

determine whether the user is within an infrastructure in which the second system is deployed;

determining whether the control command is allowed according to the outcome of the context matching; and

upon positive determinations, provide the control command, or a derivative thereof, to the one or more devices of the second system.

13. The second control system backend according to claim 9, which is further configured to provide, from the second control system backend, to the first control system backend, access credentials enabling the controller to securely provide one or more control commands to the second control system backend, the one or more control commands being one or more commands for controlling the one or more devices of the second system.

14. A system comprising the second control system backend of claim 9, and the first control system backend configured for controlling one or more devices of the first system, the first control system backend configured to:

receive, from the controller, the location information of the controller;

provide, to the second control system backend configured for controlling one or more devices of the second system, the local information of the controller and credentials of the user of the controller, so as to allow enable the second control system backend to perform said context matching.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein the provision of the location information to the second control system backend enables the controller to provide the control command to control the one or more devices of the second system to the first control system backend, the first control system backend further configured to:

receive, from the controller, a control command to control the one or more devices of the second system;

determine whether the location information received from the controller indicates that the controller is within the infrastructure in which the second system is deployed; and

provide, to the second control system backend, the control command received from the controller.

16. A system comprising the second control system backend of claim 9 and the controller, the controller comprising one or more processors configured to:

control, via the first control system backend, the one or more devices of the first system;

provide the location information of the controller to the first control system backend, and provide a control command to control the one or more devices of the second system to either the first control system backend or the second control system backend.