Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation

• US 10,530,839 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitchen, Jim, Gates, Corey, Decenzo, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US15/198,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20170063968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 370401, 370310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1033 Signalling gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems and methods include a system comprising a cloud hub located in a premises. The cloud hub comprises adapters coupled to premises devices, and the cloud hub is configured as a gateway for the premises devices. A virtual gateway is located in a cloud server environment and coupled to the cloud hub. The virtual gateway is configured as a server-side abstraction of the cloud hub. The cloud hub and the virtual gateway are configured as an automation platform that maintains state data of the premises devices, controls interaction among the premises devices, and monitors and manages the premises devices. A security system coupled to the virtual gateway. The security system includes security system components.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a premises gateway located at a premises and in communication with a plurality of premises devices; and

a plurality of session servers located external to the premises and comprising one or more virtual gateways, wherein a first session server of the plurality of session servers is in communication with the premises gateway and is configured to;

receive, from one or more of the premises gateway and a premises device of the plurality of premises devices, a message indicating state data associated with the plurality of premises devices,

determine, based on the message, a second session server of the plurality of session servers, wherein the second session server comprises a first virtual gateway, corresponding to the premises gateway, of the one or more virtual gateways, and

route, to the second session server, the message.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the premises gateway comprises a plurality of adapters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises an internet protocol (IP) adapter and the premises gateway is in communication with, via the IP adapter, one or more premises devices of the plurality of premises devices.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises a radio adapter.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of the premises devices comprises a Zigbee device and the premises gateway is in communication with, via the radio adapter, the Zigbee device.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises a camera adapter.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises a Wi-Fi adapter.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a registry gateway and a session gateway, wherein the at least one of a registry gateway and a session gateway are in communication with the first session server.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the registry gateway is configured to determine the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and route incoming data from the premises gateway to the first virtual gateway.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the registry gateway is configured to map a premises device identification (ID) and premises device type ID to a site ID corresponding to the premises.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the premises device ID corresponds to at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the site ID is associated with the premises gateway.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the premises gateway is configured to communicate with the registry gateway and receive the site ID.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a credential gateway, wherein the premises gateway is configured to communicate with the credential gateway and, based on the site ID, receive a key.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the premises gateway is configured to receive, from the credential gateway, session server data, wherein the session server data comprises a session server address.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways comprises a first gateway state machine and the premises gateway comprises a processor running a second gateway state machine.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first gateway state machine and the second gateway state machine stores state data of the plurality of premises devices and manages the plurality of premises devices.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices is configured to communicate, via a cellular connection, with the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways is configured to receive inbound communication comprising packet communications and send outbound communications comprising short message service (SMS) messages.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the premises gateway is in communication with the first session server via one or more of a broadband connection and a cellular connection.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is in communication with a remote device and configured to send, to the remote device, state data of the plurality of premises devices, and receive, from the remote device, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of premises devices comprises at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, a touchscreen controller, a video camera, an input/output (I/O) device, an actuator, and a device controller that controls an attached device.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a security system in communication with the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways, wherein the security system comprises a plurality of security system components,

wherein at least one of the premises device and the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways is configured to store state data of the security system and determine control data for the plurality of premises devices and the security system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the security system is in communication with the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways via at least one of a broadband connection and a cellular connection.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of security system components comprises at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, a touchscreen, an Internet Protocol (IP) device, an actuator, or a device controller that controls an attached device.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is in communication with the premises gateway via a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the TCP connection comprises a persistent network connection between the first session server and the premises gateway.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first session server is configured to maintain the persistent network connection by:

transmitting, to the premises gateway, one or more heartbeat messages.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) message.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is configured to determine the second session server by:

determining, based on the message, that the first session server does not comprise a virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is further configured to:

cause execution of, on the second session server and based on the message, the first virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first session server is configured to determine the second session server by:

broadcasting, to the plurality of session servers, a request for a return response indicating that a respective session server of the plurality of session servers comprises a virtual gateway corresponding to the gateway premises, and

determining that no return responses to the broadcasted request were received.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the first session server is further configured to:

cause shutdown of, on a third session server and based on the message, a second virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is configured to determine the second session server by:

broadcasting, to the plurality of session servers, a request for a return response indicating that a respective session server of the plurality of session servers comprises a virtual gateway corresponding to the gateway premises, and

receiving, from the second session server, a return response indicating that the second session server comprises the first virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is further configured to:

receive, from one or more of a second premises gateway and a premises device of a second plurality of premises devices, a second message indicating state data associated with the second plurality of premises devices, wherein the second premises gateway is located at a second premises and in communication with the second plurality of premises devices,

determine, based on the second message, a second virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway, wherein the first session server comprises the second virtual gateway, and

route, to the second virtual gateway, the second message.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first session server is further configured to:

cause execution of, based on the second message, the second virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the first session server is further configured to:

cause shutdown of, on a third session server and based on the second message, a third virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein the first session server is further configured to:

determine the second session server further based on a routing cache, wherein the routing cache is based on routing a second message, received prior to the message, to the second session server, and wherein the second message indicates state data associated with the plurality of premises devices.

39. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first session server of a plurality of session servers and from one or more of a premises gateway located at a premises and a premises device of a plurality of premises devices in communication with the premises gateway, a message indicating state data associated with the plurality of premises devices, wherein the plurality of session servers are located external to the premises and comprise one or more virtual gateways;

determining, by the first session server and based on the message, a second session server of the plurality of session servers, wherein the second session server comprises a first virtual gateway, corresponding to the premises gateway, of the one or more virtual gateways; and

routing, by the first session server and to the second session server, the message.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the premises gateway comprises a plurality of adapters.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises an internet protocol (IP) adapter and the premises gateway is in communication with, via the IP adapter, one or more premises devices of the plurality of premises devices.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises a radio adapter.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the plurality of premises devices comprises a Zigbee device and the premises gateway is in communication with, via the radio adapter, the Zigbee device.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises a camera adapter.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of adapters comprises a Wi-Fi adapter.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the determining the second session server comprises determining, based on a registry gateway, the second session server, wherein the registry gateway is configured to identify the first virtual gateway of the plurality of virtual gateways and route incoming data from the premises gateway to the first virtual gateway of the plurality of virtual gateways.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the routing the message comprises mapping of premises device identification (ID) and device type of the premises device to a site ID corresponding to the premises.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the premises device ID corresponds to at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the site ID is associated with the premises gateway.

50. The method of claim 47, comprising receiving, by the premises gateway and from the registry gateway, the site ID.

51. The method of claim 50, comprising receiving, by the premises gateway and from the registry gateway, the credential gateway.

52. The method of claim 50, comprising receiving, by the premises gateway, based on the site ID, and from a credential gateway, a key.

53. The method of claim 52, comprising receiving, by the premises gateway and from the credential gateway, session server data comprising a session server address.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

running, on the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways, a first gateway state machine; and

running, on the premises gateway, a second gateway state machine.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

storing, by at least one of the first gateway state machine and the second gateway state machine, to maintain state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

managing, by the at least one of the first gateway state machine and the second gateway state machine, the plurality of premises devices.

56. The method of claim 39, wherein at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices is configured to communicate, via a cellular connection, with the first virtual gateway.

57. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving, by the first virtual gateway, inbound communications comprising packet communications; and

sending, by the first virtual gateway, outbound communications comprising short message server (SMS) messages.

58. The method of claim 39, wherein the premises gateway is in communication with the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateway via one or more of a broadband connection and a cellular connection.

59. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

causing to send, by the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and to a remote device, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

receiving, by the first virtual gateway and from the remote device, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the first virtual gateway is in communication with the remote device via at least one of a mobile portal and a web portal.

61. The method of claim 39, wherein the plurality of premises devices comprises at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, a touchscreen controller, a video camera, an input/output (I/O) device, an actuator, and a device controller that controls an attached device.

62. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

storing, by at least one of the premises gateway and the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways, state data of a security system at the premises, and

determining control data for the plurality of premises devices and the security system.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the security system is in communication with the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways via at least one of a broadband connection and a cellular connection.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the premises gateway is in communication with the first virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways via a cellular connection.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the security system comprises a plurality of security system components, wherein the security system components comprise at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, Internet Protocol (IP) device, an actuator, a device controller that controls an attached device, and a touchscreen.

66. The method of claim 39, wherein the first session server and the premises gateway are in communication via a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the TCP connection comprises a persistent network connection between the first session server and the premises gateway.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

maintaining the persistent network connection by transmitting, by the first session server and to the premises gateway, one or more heartbeat messages.

69. The method of claim 39, wherein the message comprises a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) message.

70. The method of claim 39, wherein determining the second session server comprises:

determining, based on the message, that the first session server does not comprise a virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

71. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

causing execution of, on the second session server and based on the message, the first virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein determining the second session server comprises:

broadcasting, from the first session server and to the plurality of session servers, a request for a return response indicating that a respective session server of the plurality of session servers comprises a virtual gateway corresponding to the gateway premises, and

determining, by the first session server, that no return responses to the broadcasted request were received.

73. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

causing, by the first session server and based on the message, shutdown of a second virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway and executing on a third session server of the plurality of session servers.

74. The method of claim 39, wherein determining the second session server comprises:

broadcasting, from the first session server and to the plurality of session servers, a request for a return response indicating that a respective session server of the plurality of session servers comprises a virtual gateway corresponding to the gateway premises, and

receiving, by the first session server and from the second session server, a return response indicating that the second session server comprises the first virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

75. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving, by the first session server and from one or more of a second premises gateway and a premises device of a second plurality of premises devices, a second message indicating state data associated with the second plurality of premises devices, wherein the second premises gateway is located at a second premises and in communication with the second plurality of premises devices;

determining, by the first session server and based on the second message, a second virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway, wherein the first session server comprises the second virtual gateway; and

routing, to the second virtual gateway, the second message.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

causing, by the first session server and based on the second message, execution of the second virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway.

77. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

causing, by the first session server and based on the second message, shutdown of a third virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway and executing on a third session server of the plurality of session servers.

78. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

determining the second session server further based on a routing cache, wherein the routing cache is based on routing a second message, received prior to the message, to the second session server, and wherein the second message indicates state data associated with the plurality of premises devices.

79. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

receive, from one or more of a premises gateway located at a premises and a premises device of a plurality of premises devices in communication with the premises gateway, a message indicating state data associated with the plurality of premises devices, wherein the message is associated with at least one session server of a plurality of session servers and the plurality of session servers are located external to the premises and comprise one or more virtual gateways;

determine, based on the message, a first session server of the plurality of session servers, wherein the first session server comprises a first virtual gateway, corresponding to the premises gateway, of the one or more virtual gateways; and

route, to the first session server, the message.

80. The device of claim 79, wherein the premises gateway and the device are in communication via a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

81. The device of claim 80, wherein the TCP connection comprises a persistent network connection with the premises gateway.

82. The device of claim 81, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

maintain the persistent network connection by transmitting, to the premises gateway, one or more heartbeat messages.

83. The device of claim 79, wherein the message comprises a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) message.

84. The device of claim 79, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to determine the first session server by:

determining, based on the message, that the device does not comprise a virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

85. The device of claim 79, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

cause execution of, on the first session server and based on the message, the first virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

86. The device of claim 85, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to determine the first session server by:

broadcasting, to the plurality of session servers, a request for a return response indicating that a respective session server of the plurality of session servers comprises a virtual gateway corresponding to the gateway premises, and

determining that no return responses to the broadcasted request were received.

87. The device of claim 85, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

cause, based on the message, shutdown of a second virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway and executing on a second session server of the plurality of session servers.

88. The device of claim 79, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to determine the first session server by:

broadcasting, to the plurality of session servers, a request for a return response indicating that a respective session server of the plurality of session servers comprises a virtual gateway corresponding to the gateway premises, and

receiving, from the first session server, a return response indicating that the first session server comprises the first virtual gateway corresponding to the premises gateway.

89. The device of claim 79, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

receive, from one or more of a second premises gateway and a premises device of a second plurality of premises devices, a second message indicating state data associated with the second plurality of premises devices, wherein the second premises gateway is located at a second premises and in communication with the second plurality of premises devices,

determine, based on the second message, a second virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway, wherein the device comprises the second virtual gateway, and

route, to the second virtual gateway, the second message.

90. The device of claim 89, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

cause, based on the second message, execution of the second virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway.

91. The device of claim 89, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

cause, based on the second message, shutdown of a third virtual gateway corresponding to the second premises gateway and executing on a second session server of the plurality of session servers.

92. The device of claim 79, wherein the memory stores further instructions that further cause the device to:

determine the first session server further based on a routing cache, wherein the routing cache is based on routing a second message, received prior to the message, to the first session server, and wherein the second message indicates state data associated with the plurality of premises devices.