Method, system architecture and computer software for communication between devices

• US 20080172479A1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Frey, Jan-Erik, Jin, Xiaohong, Majanen, Robert, Villegas, Pablo-Lozan, Rosvall, Anders, Soderberg, Per-Ulrik, Rehnman, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 8,122,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method for communication between a plurality of devices connected to each other through a network. Each device includes at least one service that provides a set of functions for controlling and/or monitoring the device. A service of a first device detects the presence of a second device, detects the presence of a service of the second device, retrieves information about the functions of the service of the second device, and invokes a function of the service of the second device. A system architecture for communication between the devices includes a communication module configured to enable a service of a first device to detect the presence of a second device, to detect the presence of a service of the second device, to retrieve information about the functions of the service of the second device and to invoke a function of the service of the second device.

Claims

1. A method for communication between a plurality of devices connected to each other through a network, each device having at least one service which provides a set of functions for controlling and/or monitoring the device,

detecting with a first device a presence of a second device,

detecting with the first device a presence of a service of the second device,

retrieving with the first device information about functions of the service of the second device,

arranging the first device and the second device and services of the first device and services of the second device into hierarchies, and

invoking with the first device a function of the service of the second device.

2. The method according claim 1, wherein each device is represented by a service provider addressing the services of the device, and at least two service providers are arranged hierarchically by means of arranging a second service provider as a parent to a first service provider.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

joining a new service to the first service provider wherein joining a new service comprises

issuing with the new service a message,

receiving with services addressed by the first and the second service provider the message issued by the new service, and

storing with the services addressed by the first and second service provider information associated with the new service.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least three service providers are arranged hierarchically and the services addressed by third service provider ignore the message.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of functions comprises a command for subscribing to alarms, which are sent to all subscribers upon change.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of functions comprises a command for subscribing to events, which are sent to all subscribers upon change.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a service of a device comprises a number of predefined functions and the service is configured by selecting one or more of said predefined functions.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said predefined functions comprise alarm and event generation, variable subscription, alarm subscription, event subscription, search for and retrieval of other devices and remote method invocation.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the services are specifying which services they are interested in, and when a new service is joined to the network, the services interested in that service are notified about the new service.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the service specifies the name of or type of services they are interested in or whether they are interested in being notified of all new services.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a service of the first device invokes a function of a service of the second device in a point to point manner by means of sending a message comprising a serialized stream of characters to the second device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the serialized stream of characters is sent via a channel which is any of a null-modem, a normal modem, GSM, a third generation mobile communication, or a radio transmission such as one complying with Bluetooth standards.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method carries out communication between the devices in an industrial, non-industrial or home automation control system.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method carries out communication between devices in an industrial, non-industrial or home automation control system by means of a wireless protocol.

13. A system architecture for communication between a plurality of devices connected to each other through a network, each device having at least one service which provides a set of functions for controlling and/or monitoring the device, the system architecture comprises:

at least one communication module having means for enabling a service of a first device to detect the presence of a second device, to detect the presence of a service of the second device, to retrieve information about the functions of the service of the second device and to invoke a function of the service of the second device.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein each device is represented by a service provider addressing the services of the device and at least two service providers are arranged hierarchically by arranging a second service provider as a parent to a first service provider.

15. The A system according to claim 14, wherein the second service provider is arranged as a parent of a plurality of service providers.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the communication module is arranged so that a message from a new service, joining the first service provider, are received by the services addressed by the first and the second service provider.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

at least three hierarchically arranged service providers and the service providers are arranged so that the third service provider ignores the message from said new service joining the first service provider, whereby the services addressed by third service provider do not receive the message.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein said set of functions comprises a command for subscribing to alarms, which are sent to all subscribers upon change.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said set of functions comprises a command for subscribing to events, which are send to all subscribers upon change.

20. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a service having a number of modules for performing different predefined functions and

means for, upon configuration of the service, selecting one or more of said program modules.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said predefined functions comprises alarm and event generation, variable subscription, alarm subscription, event subscription, search for and retrieval of other devices and remote method invocations.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein at least some of the services comprise means for specifying which services they are interested to receive messages from.

23. The system according to claim 13, wherein the service is written in a platform independent language.

24. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

computer program code means or software code portions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a computer or a processor to carry out a method comprising detecting with a first device a presence of a second device detecting with the first device a presence of a service of the second device, retrieving with the first device information about functions of the service of the second device, arranging the first device and the second device and services of the first device and services of the second device into hierarchies, and invoking with the first device a function of the service of the second device.

25. (canceled)

28. (canceled)