Programmable Automation with the Aid of a Social Network

• US 20140359042A1
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey G. Fenley, Vasiliy V. Bogatov
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey G. Fenley, Vasiliy V. Bogatov
• Inventors: Fenley, Jeffrey G., Bogatov, Vasiliy V.
• Application Number:
  US14/267,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20140359042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods for communicating with at least one peripheral device of a user, comprising providing a computer server that is in communication with an automation controller that is operatively coupled to at least one peripheral device of the user. The computer server hosts a social network that comprises an automation application that is programmed to permit the user to access the peripheral device. Next, at the computer server through the automation controller, information is received from the peripheral device that is of or related to a state of the peripheral device. Based on the information received computer server, the user or another user selected by the user is provided an indication as to the state of the peripheral device. The indication is provided to the user or the other user through the automation application on the social network.

Claims

1. A method for accessing at least one peripheral device of a user, comprising:

(a) using a user interface on an electronic device of a user, accessing an automation application in a social network hosted by at least one computer server, wherein said computer server is in communication with an automation controller that is operatively coupled to at least one peripheral device of said user, and wherein said peripheral device is accessible by said automation application through said automation controller;

(b) receiving, by said automation application accessed through said user interface, at least one user instruction from said user to access said peripheral device;

(c) using said computer server, directing said automation controller to access said peripheral device based on said user instruction; and

(d) accessing said peripheral device based on said user instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said instruction is to receive information from said peripheral device, and wherein said information is received from said peripheral device and presented to said user in said automation application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said information is of or related to a state of said peripheral device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said instruction is to control or monitor said peripheral device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one peripheral device comprises a plurality of peripheral devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least a subset of said plurality of peripheral devices includes different devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to (a), bringing said automation controller in communication with said computer server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing, from said automation application, one or more drivers to enable said automation application to communicate with said peripheral device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device is an appliance, a monitoring system, a sensor, or an entertainment system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to (d), directing an alert to said user using said social network.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to (d), directing an alert to another user selected by said user.

12. A method for communicating with at least one peripheral device of a user, comprising:

(a) providing a computer server that is in communication with an automation controller that is operatively coupled to at least one peripheral device of said user, wherein said computer server hosts a social network that comprises an automation application that is programmed to permit said user to access said peripheral device;

(b) receiving, at said computer server through said automation controller, information from said peripheral device that is of or related to a state of said peripheral device or an environment in proximity to said peripheral device; and

(c) based on said information received at said computer server, providing said user or another user selected by said user an indication as to said state, which indication is provided to said user or said another user through said automation application on said social network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said access comprises receiving information from or providing instructions to said peripheral device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one peripheral device comprises a plurality of peripheral devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said plurality of peripheral devices comprises a sensor and a non-sensor peripheral device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to (a), bringing said automation controller in communication with said computer server.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing, from said automation application, one or more drivers to enable said automation application to communicate with said peripheral device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said indication is provided in said social network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said indication is provided on a newsfeed of said social network.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said indication is provided in a third party application that is external to said social network.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said peripheral device is an appliance, a monitoring system, a sensor, or an entertainment system.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said indication is an alert.

23. A system for communicating with at least one peripheral device of a user, comprising:

(a) a port that is in communication with said peripheral device;

(b) a network communication module that is in communication with a social network that is hosted by a computer server, wherein said social network comprises an automation application that enables a user to (i) provide one or more instructions to control or regulate said peripheral device, or (ii) receive at least one indication as to a state of said peripheral device; and

(c) a computer processor that is operatively coupled to said port and said network communication module, wherein said computer processor is programmed to (i) receive said one or more instructions from said automation application of said social network through said network communication module, or (ii) receive information from said peripheral device through said port and direct said at least one indication to said social network through said network communication module.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said access comprises receiving information from or providing instructions to said peripheral device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one peripheral device comprises a plurality of peripheral devices.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein at least a subset of said plurality of peripheral devices includes different devices.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said peripheral device is an appliance, a monitoring system, a sensor, or an entertainment system.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said indication is an alert.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein said one or more instructions are provided by said user through said automation application.

30. A computer readable medium comprising machine-executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors implements a method for communicating with at least one peripheral device of a user, the method comprising:

(a) providing a computer server that is in communication with an automation controller that is operatively coupled to at least one peripheral device of said user, wherein said computer server hosts a social network that comprises an automation application that is programmed to permit said user to access said peripheral device;

(b) receiving, at said computer server through said automation controller, information from said peripheral device that is of or related to a state of said peripheral device; and

(c) based on said information received computer server, providing said user or another user selected by said user an indication as to said state of said peripheral device, which indication is provided to said user or said another user through said automation application on said social network.