Device automation using networked device control having a web services for devices stack

• US 7,587,464 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exceptional Innovation, Inc. (ST Holdings Topco LLC)
• Original Assignee: Exceptional Innovation, LLC (ST Holdings Topco LLC)
• Inventors: Moorer, Seale, Eichensehr, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): BATES, KEVIN T
• Application Number:
  US11/686,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 709/208, 709/223, 709/227, 709/246, 455/3.06, 455/3.04
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Automation system and process of operating an automation system in a Web Service environment includes providing at least one automation client and at least one automation device, the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device configured with a web services for devices stack protocol, connecting a network including at least one server with the web services for devices to the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device, and transmitting automation-based control and communication between the at least one automation client and at least one automation device. The at least one automation client includes one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a control panel, and a game controller and the at least one automation device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, and a HVAC system.

Claims

1. A process of operating an automation system in a Web Service environment, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one automation client and at least one automation device, the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack;

connecting a network comprising at least one server configured with the WSD stack to the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device; and

transmitting automation-based control and communication between the at least one automation client and at least one automation device,

wherein the at least one automation client comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a control panel, and a game controller and the at least one automation device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, and a HVAC system,

wherein the WSD stack comprises;

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one automation client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one automation device; and

a service provider layer comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises;

one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding automation device;

one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and automation device; and

a controller configured to communicate with the one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the first and second communication layers process at least one of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and serial protocols.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the WSD stack is configured to discover the at least one automation client and the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the WSD stack is configured for description and the description comprises at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol.

5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the WSD stack is configured for eventing and wherein the eventing comprises at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for automation client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one automation device to push events to the at least one automation client.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the WSD stack is configured for:

discovery of the at least one automation client, the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses;

description comprising at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol; and

eventing comprising at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for automation client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one automation device to push events to the at least one automation client.

7. A machine-readable tangible storage medium comprising instructions stored therewith, which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to establish an automation system in a Web Service environment, the machine-reachable medium comprising:

instructions for providing automation-based control and communication between at least one automation client and at least one automation device, the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack configured to the at least one automation client and at least one automation device; and

instructions for configuring a network comprising at least one server to be connected to the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device with the WSD stack,

wherein the at least one automation client comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a control panel, and a game controller and the at least one automation device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, and a HVAC system,

wherein the WSD stack comprises;

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one automation client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one automation device

a service provider layer stacked between the first and second communication layers and comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises;

one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding automation device;

one or more device bridges corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device bridge configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and automation device; and

a controller configured to communicate with the one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category.

8. The machine-readable tangible storage medium according to claim 7 wherein the first and second communication layers process at least one of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and serial protocols.

9. The machine-readable tangible storage medium according to claim 7 wherein the WSD stack is configured to discover the at least one automation client and the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses.

10. The machine-readable tangible storage medium according to claim 7 wherein the web services for devices protocol WSD stack is configured for description and the description comprises at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol.

11. The machine-readable tangible storage medium according to claim 7 wherein the WSD stack is configured for eventing and wherein the eventing comprises at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for automation client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one automation device to push events to the at least one automation client.

12. The machine-readable tangible storage medium of claim 7, wherein the WSD stack is configured for:

discovery of the at least one automation client, the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses;

description comprising at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol; and

eventing comprising at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for automation client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one automation device to push events to the at least one automation client.

13. An automation system operating in a Web Service for Devices environment, comprising:

at least one automation client and at least one automation device, the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device configured with a web services for devices (WSD) stack configured to provide automation-based control and communication between the at least one automation client and at least one automation device; and

a network comprising at least one server configured to be connected to the at least one automation client and the at least one automation device with the WSD stack,

wherein the at least one automation client comprises one of a TV, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a control panel, and a game controller and the at least one automation device comprises an audio system, a video system, an intercom system, a lighting system, a security system, and a HVAC system,

wherein the WSD stack comprises;

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the at least one automation client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the at least one automation device;

a service provider layer stacked between the first and second communication layers and comprising one or more components, each component corresponding to a device category, wherein each component comprises;

one or more Web Services corresponding to one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding automation device;

one or more device bridges provided corresponding to the one or more Web Services, respectively, each device configured to translate communication between the corresponding Web Service and automation device; and

a controller configured to communicate with the one or more automation devices of the corresponding device category via the second communication layer.

14. The automation system according to claim 13 wherein the first and second communication layers process at least one of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and serial protocols.

15. The automation system according to claim 13 wherein the WSD stack is configured to discover the at least one automation client and the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses.

16. The automation system according to claim 13 wherein the WSD stack is configured for description and the description comprises at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol.

17. The automation system according to claim 13 wherein the WSD stack is configured for eventing and wherein the eventing comprises at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for automation client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one automation device to push events to the at least one automation client.

18. The automation system of claim 13, wherein the WSD stack is configured for:

discovery of the at least one automation client, the discovery comprises one of multicast announcements, multicast query requests, and unicast responses;

description comprising at least one of WS-Metadata exchange, web services description language, and simple object access protocol/XML protocol; and

eventing comprising at least one of web services description language for detailed events, a configuration for automation client subscription to events, and a configuration for the at least one automation device to push events to the at least one automation client.