Automation control system having device scripting

• US 7,966,083 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• 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): Kasenge; Charles R
• Application Number:
  US11/686,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/17, 700/19, 700/65, 700/83, 700/86, 700/87, 700/276, 700/300, 709/203, 709/220
• US Class Current: 700/87
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A process of operating an automation system with an internet protocol based network includes receiving a user input to a client having a user interface implemented with Web Service for Devices (WSD) to initiate a series of scripted automation commands, executing the scripted automation commands by communicating the commands to at least one device implemented with WSD, and performing, with the at least one device, the scripted automation commands. The client is one of a personal computer, a television, a personal digital assistant, and a controller. The device is one of 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 comprising a plurality of devices, each device configured to perform at least one action, and a client for controlling the actions of the plurality of devices, the plurality of devices and the client connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) based network implemented with a Web Service for Devices (WSD) protocol by a server connected thereto, the method comprising:

rendering a script setup interface to at least one of the server and the client for allowing a user to add, delete and edit a script comprising a series of commands for automating and converging the actions of the plurality of devices;

rendering a configuration interface to at least one of the server and the client for allowing the user to create and edit a script by hand-coding and set up a schedule to run a script and a trigger condition for automatically executing a script;

rendering a user interface in at least one of the server and the client to receive a user input to execute the script; and

upon receiving the user input, distributing the series of commands of the script to the plurality of devices through the network to automate and converge the actions of the plurality of devices,

wherein the WSD protocol comprises;

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the plurality of devices; 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 of the plurality of devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding one or more of the plurality of devices;

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 device; and

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

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a single user input.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the script setup interface and configuration interface are a graphical user interface.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein each command controls an action for a particular device to take and a property of the action.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of rendering the script setup interface comprises the step of rendering a script command interface for at least one of implementing functionality for adding a device command, deleting a device command, and editing a device command and listing current commands.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the step of rendering the script setup interface further comprises the step of rendering an action setup interface for selecting an action for a particular device for inputting action properties associated with the action.

7. An automation system comprising:

a server connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) based network to implement a Web Service for Device (WSD) protocol thereto;

a plurality of devices connected to the network, each device configured to perform at least one action;

a client connected to the network and having a user interface to receive a user input to execute a script comprising a series of commands for automating and converging the actions of the plurality of devices,

wherein the server is configured to render a script setup interface and a configuration interface to at least one of the server and the client,

the script setup interface allows a user to add, edit and delete a script, and

the configuration interface allows the user to create and edit a script by hand-coding and set up a schedule to run a script and a trigger condition for automatically executing a script,

wherein the WSD protocol comprises;

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the plurality of devices; 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 of the plurality of devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding one or more of the plurality of devices;

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 device; and

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

8. The automation system according to claim 7, wherein the user input comprises a single user input.

9. The automation system according to claim 7, wherein the script setup interface and the configuration interface are a graphical user interface.

10. The automation system according to claim 7, wherein each command controls an action for a particular device to take and a property of the action.

11. The automation system according to claim 7, wherein the script setup interface comprises a script command interface for at least one of implementing functionality for adding a device command, deleting a device command, and editing a device command and listing current commands.

12. The automation system according to claim 11, wherein the script setup interface further comprises an action setup interface for selecting an action for a particular device for inputting action properties associated with the action.

13. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to operate an automation system comprising a server, a plurality of devices, each configured to perform at least one action, and a client configured to control the actions of the plurality of devices, the server, the plurality of devices and the client connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) based network implemented with a Web Service for Devices (WSD) protocol by the server, the machine-readable medium comprising:

instructions for rendering a script setup interface for adding, deleting and editing a script comprising a series of commands for automating and converging the actions of the plurality of devices;

instructions for rendering a configuration interface for allowing the user to create and edit a script by hand-coding and set up a schedule to run a script and a trigger condition for automatically executing a script;

instructions for rendering a user interface to at least one of the server and the client for receiving a user input to execute the script; and

instructions for, upon receiving the user input, distributing the series of commands of the script to the plurality of devices via the network to automate and converge the actions of the plurality of devices,

wherein the WSD protocol comprises;

a first communication layer configured to logically interface the client;

a second communication layer configured to physically interface the plurality of devices; 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 of the plurality of devices of the corresponding device category, respectively, each Web Service configured to function as a Web Service host for the corresponding one or more of the plurality of devices;

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 device; and

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

14. The machine-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the user input comprises a single user input.

15. The machine-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the script setup interface and the configuration interface are a graphical user interface.

16. The machine-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein each command controls an action for a particular device to take and a property of the action.

17. The machine-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the instructions for rendering the script setup interface comprises instructions for rendering a script command interface for at least one of implementing functionality for adding a device command, deleting a device command, and editing a device command and listing current commands.

18. The machine-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the instructions for rendering the script setup interface further comprises instructions for rendering an action setup interface for selecting an action for a particular device for inputting action properties associated with the action.