Behavior agent based system and process for machine to machine applications and services

• US 20050108504A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SensorLogic, Inc. (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: SensorLogic, Inc. (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Cowin, Gregory Lynn, Smith, Jeffrey O., Appelt, Byron Kirk
• Application Number:
  US10/969,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 712/32
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4148 characterised by using several processors for different functions, distributed (real-time) systems G05B19/4141 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33063 Generic coordination, master agent to data manager agent to tasks to active agent
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33068 CCP coordination cooperation protocol, make optimal decisions with other agents
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33277 Distributed system with host as leader, host with multiple of agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

The present invention comprises a Behavior (201) based M2M platform having a combination of hardware and software that connects an active global network of devices, sensors, and actuators. The present invention uses Behavior (201) composition, transmission and sequencing to avoid the need for direct programming. The Behavior (201) concept refers to the use of at least one stimulus-response pair. A self-contained message is an example of a stimulus (such as a telemetry reading, alarm and the like), for a Behavior (201) created by a user, such as an end-user.

Claims

1. A telemetry system, comprising:

at least one of a first set of machines;

at least one of a second set of machines;

a communication interface synchronously or asynchronously coupling said at least one of a first set of machines and at least one of said second set of machines;

a vertical application in communication with and among, said at least one from the first set of machines and at least one from the second set of machines; and

said vertical application having being developed using a behavior based agents architecture.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a first set of machines is a server side representation and the at least one of a second set of machines comprises a remote device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein Behaviors are transmitted from the server side representation to a remote device;

and

the device is adapted to execute if communication with the server side is interrupted.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the representation of a Behavior is in XML or binary.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first set of machines and each of the second set of machines each comprise hardware configured by software.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hardware further comprises a computer, controller or micro-controller having at least a processor, memory, data busses and input/output (“

I/O”

).

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the remote device comprises at least one from the group of sensor and actuator.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one first machine is distal from the at least one second machine.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of such second set of machines is adapted to perform at least one activity from the following group of activities:

sense a condition or state and control and actuate another device or mechanism.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said another device or mechanism comprises at least one from the following group:

valve, switch, relay, potentiometer, pump, seal, sensor, and actuator

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one of a first set of machines and at least one of said second set of machines are used in a vertical application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said vertical application comprises one from the following groups of applications:

meter reading, vending machine monitoring, oil and gas well monitoring, industrial automation and remote servicing.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each of such first sets of machines and each of such second sets of machines are adapted to communicate over a communications interface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the communications interface comprises a wired interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communications interface is a wireless interface.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of machines further comprises a global network of devices.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second set of machines have embedded logic operable to enable the development of custom applications for vertical use.

18. A machine to machine telemetry development system, comprising:

server side hardware with a first wireless telemetry modem;

device side hardware with a second wireless telemetry modem;

a communications interface between the first and second wireless telemetry modem,

software adapted to configure the server side and device side hardware;

said software including an operating system, drivers and vertical application software; and

said vertical application software based in a behavior based agent architecture at the server side and embedded at the device side.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the behavior based agent architecture can enable two active representations.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first representation runs on a centralized cluster of the server side, comprising a proxy representation and a second representation runs on the device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the representation of any Behavior can be in XML or binary.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein device eligibility is determined by the classification of the Behavior.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein certain Behaviors can exist at either the server side or device side.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein Behaviors that exist on the server side are transmitted wirelessly to the device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein Behaviors existing on the device side can run without the need of further communication from the server side in order to execute.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein Behaviors are transmitted over a wired interface from the server side representation to a remote device enabling the device to communicate less and continue to process when communication cannot be established.

27. A platform for generating a plurality of vertical applications, said platform comprising a behavior based agent architecture.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a plurality of functions can be composed from a generic, template form.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the behavior based agent architecture of the vertical application enables the server side and device side to communicate in both directions.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the platform enables a vertical application adapted to analyze and interpret data and note events and exceptions with varying levels of significance.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein notifications of these events are sent automatically to applications on the server side and then to forwarded to recipients, if necessary, in forms that can be customized for each situation.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the platform is adapted to enable vertical applications to automatically respond to telemetry data or manual operator intervention.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the platform enables a vertical application adapted to adjust remote equipment settings to achieve performance targets.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the platform enables a vertical application adapted to automatically and continuously regulates the performance of multiple devices in an overall business operational process to minimize costs, maximize performance and achieve optimal profitability.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the platform enables the development and configuration of a specific application without programming code.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the platform uses Behavior composing, transmission and sequencing to avoid the need for direct programming in the development of vertical applications adapted to couple an active global network of devices.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein a Behavior comprises at least one stimulus-response pair.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the stimulus comprises a self-contained message.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the self contained message is a telemetry reading or alarm.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein a Behavior is created by an end user.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein a Behavior is a basic building block for programming devices without requiring traditional or direct programming.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein a Behavior is created from a template.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the Behavior template combines the appropriate stimulus and reaction to create a “

canned”

Behavior.

44. A telemetry development platform delivered over a network configured to provide data management and presentation for telemetry applications, comprising:

a standardized, web-based front end for interfacing to a wireless carrier for data transport, provisioning and billing; and

a “

bill-on-behalf”

service to create private labeled recurring invoices from application developer customers for invoicing end user customers.

45. The platform of claim 44, wherein a user is enabled to develop a complete, end-to-end wireless telemetry solution without the need for direct code development.

46. The platform of claim 44, wherein such platform includes basic telemetry functions, data collection and presentation capabilities, alarming and notification capabilities, control functions and a communications interface for coupling a first machine and a second machine.

47. The platform if claim 44, adapted to enable a packaged managed service.

48. The platform of claim 47, wherein application developers are able to pay for the services as they are used.

49. The platform of claim 47, wherein developers are able to integrate remote equipment over a wireless interface.

50. The platform of claim 44, further comprising being used to create a vertical application to remotely collect data on flow rates, pressures, temperatures, tank levels and equipment status.

51. The platform of claim 44, further comprising being used to create a vertical application to adjust the pump operation remotely in response to well and weather conditions.

52. The platform of claim 44, further comprising being used to create a vertical application to remotely monitor equipment, detect failures, schedule optimal preventive maintenance, and track consumption of packaging chemicals.

53. The platform of claim 44, further comprising being used to create a vertical application used program signage used in emergency alerts and Amber Alerts.

54. The platform of claim 44, further comprising being used to create a vertical application to remotely configure and monitor smart antenna systems.

55. The platform of claim 44, further comprising being used to create a vertical application to remotely collect data from diagnostic equipment such as blood pressure, weight, and glucose level of a distal patient.

56. The platform of claim 44, further comprising an integrated rapid prototyping service.

57. The platform of claim 44, further comprising GSM/GPS-enabled tools and application logic.

58. A method of developing a machine to machine vertical application, comprising using a behavior based agent architecture at the server side and embedded at the device side.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the behavior based agent architecture uses at least one stimulus-response pair.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the Behavior resides on the device.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the vertical application comprises a proxy representation and real onboard representation of Behaviors and agents.

62. A method for providing an architecture for machine to machine applications comprising behavior based agents.

63. A method of developing a vertical application among servers and devices using at least one Behavior, comprising:

choosing an entity from a group of devices;

choosing a Behavior from a list of available Behaviors as determined by the classifiers of the entity;

highlighting fields in a sentence that must be completed to assign Behavior to the entity;

editing the field of a sentence where required properties are highlighted; and

saving the Behavior.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising transmitting the Behavior to at least one machine.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the entity is chosen and Behavior is assigned in a graphical user interface (GUI);

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the Behavior is transmitted to a centralized server representation (proxy).

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the representation of any Behavior can be in XML or binary.

68. The method of claim 63, further comprising transmitting the Behavior to a device.

69. The method of claim 63, wherein the Behavior will react anytime the appropriate stimulus is received by the entity.

70. The method of claim 63, wherein each entity can have two representations, a first representation that runs on a centralized server, a proxy representation, and a second representation that can runs on the device.

71. The method of claim 63, wherein Behaviors that run on a device are adapted to run without the need of further communication from a server in order to execute.

72. The method of claim 63 further comprising the following Behavior related actions or states:

Behavior sequencing, Behavior inhibition;

Behavior transmission;

Behavior disablement; and

Behavior settings.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the Behavior represents at least one stimulus-response pair.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the stimulus comprises a self contained message that contains all parameters or arguments needed for the device

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the self contained message corresponds to a class in the object-oriented programming context.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the Behavior can indicate what reaction occurs during a given stimulus class of message.

77. The method of claim 63, wherein the Behavior comprises a composite Behavior.

78. The method of claim 63, wherein a Behavior agent comprises a queue of stimuli to process, a sequence of Behaviors and a logical thread of execution.

79. The method of claim 63, wherein the Behavior comprises two parts, the stimulus that initiates the Behavior and the reaction to the stimulus or the action.

80. The method of claim 63, wherein the Behavior is codified in the following general form:

when (Stimulus),

perform reaction.

81. The method of claim 63, wherein the a simple Behavior comprises a Universally Unique Identifier;

Classname, Smart Properties, BehaviorSetting and BehaviorPerformance.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein a BehaviorAgent comprises a queue of stimuli to process;

a sequence of Behaviors; and

a logical thread of execution;

Behavior Sequencing is the order that Behaviors are given a chance to respond to a stimulus;

Behavior Inhibition is the ability for a single Behavior to inhibit Behaviors later in the sequence from getting a chance to respond to a stimulus;

BehaviorPerformance is recorded so that it can be accessed thru an InstrumentationRequest or viewed in a browser;

BehaviorSpec represents a specification that can be used to create a Behavior. It contains all the information that is needed such as UUID, Behavior settings, and Behavior class name; and

BehaviorDescriptor represents a description of a BehaviorSpec that is suitable for user manipulation.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein a BehaviorDescriptor contains an ordered sequence PropertyDescriptors;

and

PropertyDescriptors form a sentence for the user to manipulate that tells the agent what to do.

84. The method of claim 63, wherein each entity has a logically separate thread of execution, so each entity can respond to stimuli independently of the other entities.

85. The method of claim 63, wherein said method is performed on a development platform is delivered to users through a portal.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein said portal comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) to select, define and assign entities and Behaviors.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein such GUI allows the user to control the sequence of Behaviors, which comprises the order that the Behaviors are evaluated.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein such sequencing, coupled with the ability to inhibit Behaviors, enables a sophisticated logic and code to be added a device, sensor, or actuator without direct programming.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein Behavior sequencing is the order that Behaviors are given a chance to respond to a stimulus.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein Behavior inhibition is the ability for a single Behavior to inhibit later Behaviors in the sequence from responding to a stimulus.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein each entity has a separate thread of execution (logically), so each entity can respond to stimuli independently of the other entities.

92. The method of claim 87, wherein the GUI enables Behaviors to be edited or removed after a Behavior has been created.

93. The method of claim 87, wherein a Behavior may be disabled by a user or by the Behavior itself.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein a disabled Behavior can be enabled at a later time without having to create the Behavior again.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein a disabled Behavior can be enabled by a user or another Behavior.