Service provider for embedded devices using a message store

• US 8,090,811 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH CHAU
• Application Number:
  US11/132,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,420 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A service provider for embedded devices is disclosed for controlling, monitoring and/or updating embedded devices. The service provider includes a computer having communications hardware for communicating over a computer network. The computer also includes a storage device and a processor. The computer network communication module is also configured to communicate via the computer network with a message store and transmit component, wherein the message store and transmit component is capable of communicating with one or more embedded devices through the computer network. A database of service information obtained from the computer network is also added to the service provider. This database of service information is available to the embedded devices through the message store and transmit component. In general, communications between the service provider and the embedded device occur by having information or data be sent from the provider to the message store and transmit component and then, in turn, this information or data is sent by the message store and transmit component to the embedded device.

Claims

1. An embedded device service provider, the embedded device service provider comprising:

communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the communications hardware being configured to communicate via the computer network with a message store and transmit component, wherein the message store and transmit component communicates with one or more embedded devices through the computer network, and wherein an embedded device is not a desktop computer;

memory;

an embedded device information database including embedded device information, the embedded device information database being available to the computer network;

a service information database including service information obtained from the computer network, the service information database being available to the embedded devices through the message store and transmit component, wherein the service information is sent in a message from the database of service information to the message store and transmit component and then from the message store and transmit component to the embedded device; and

a processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive a message from the message store and transmit component, the message store and transmit component having previously received information from the embedded device;

identify the embedded device that sent the information to the message store and transmit component;

access the embedded device information database;

send information to the message store and transmit component that may be then sent by the message store and transmit component to the embedded device, wherein the information sent comprises updated computer program code, wherein the updated computer program code is obtained from a plurality of information providers, wherein the service provider communicates with the plurality of information providers via the computer network, and wherein the service provider sends the updated computer program code to the embedded device causing computer program code on the embedded device to be updated, wherein the embedded device does not communicate directly with the information providers; and

store device information descriptive of a transaction.

2. The service provider of claim 1 wherein the embedded device information database further comprises:

linking data that links certain embedded device information to certain updated service information;

a plurality of embedded device identifiers; and

a plurality of capabilities tables.

3. The service provider of claim 2 further comprising schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and routing data, the schedule data being used to control monitoring of a plurality of embedded devices.

4. The service provider of claim 3 wherein the embedded device information database further comprises interface data that was received from the message store and transmit component, the interface data having been previously sent from the embedded device to the message store and transmit component.

5. The service provider of claim 4 further comprising control data to be sent to the message store and transmit component and may then be sent on to the embedded device, the control data being capable of affecting the operation of the embedded device.

6. The service provider of claim 1 wherein the service information database further includes updated service information that has been obtained via the computer network.

7. A service provider for embedded devices comprising:

a computer, the computer including communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the computer also including a storage device;

a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network, the computer network communication module being configured to communicate via the computer network with a message store and transmit component, wherein the message store and transmit component communicates with one or more embedded devices through the computer network, and wherein an embedded device is not a desktop computer;

a database of service information obtained from the computer network, the database being available to the embedded devices through the message store and transmit component, wherein the service information is sent in a message from the database of service information to the message store and transmit component and then from the message store and transmit component to the embedded device;

an information collection manager for searching the computer network and for accessing and obtaining updated service information from a plurality of information providers via the computer network, wherein the updated service information obtained from the computer network comprises updated computer program code, and wherein the service provider communicates with the plurality of information providers via the computer network and sends the updated computer program code to the embedded device causing computer program code on the embedded device to be updated, wherein the embedded device does not communicate directly with the information providers; and

a database interface module for accessing the service information in the service information database.

8. The service provider of claim 7 further comprising an embedded device communications module that handles the communications with the message store and transmit component.

9. The service provider of claim 8 wherein the embedded device communications module handles at least one communication from the message store and transmit component that includes an embedded device identifier.

10. The service provider of claim 7 further comprising schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and wherein the schedule data is being used to control monitoring of the embedded devices.

11. The service provider of claim 10 wherein the service provider controls an embedded device by periodically sending control data to computer program code loaded on the embedded device to affect operation of the embedded device, wherein the periodic sending is based on the schedule data, and wherein the control data is sent from the service provider to the message store and transmit component and is then sent by the message store and transmit component to the embedded device.

12. The service provider of claim 7 wherein the service provider obtains from the message store and transmit component a device description, the device description having previously been sent from the embedded device to the message store and transmit component.

13. The service provider of claim 12 wherein the device description is selected from the group consisting of functions, variables, data types, events and files.

14. The service provider of claim 7 wherein the service provider monitors an embedded device by periodically obtaining from the message store and transmit component interface data that was previously sent from the embedded device to the message store and transmit component, and wherein the service provider stores the interface data on the storage device.

15. The provider of claim 14 wherein the service provider stores monitoring data created from the interface data received and wherein the service provider further provides the monitoring data to a requestor through the computer network.

16. The service provider of claim 7 wherein the message store and transmit component comprises a mail server.

17. The service provider of claim 7 wherein the message store and transmit component comprises a message queue.

18. The service provider of claim 7 wherein the updated service information obtained from the computer network further comprises a location of an embedded device.

19. A service provider for embedded devices comprising:

a computer, the computer including communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the computer also including a storage device;

a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network, the computer network communication module being configured to communicate via the computer network with a message store and transmit component, wherein the message store and transmit component communicates with one or more embedded devices through the computer network, and wherein an embedded device is not a desktop computer;

a database of embedded device information, the embedded device information being available to the computer network, wherein the embedded device information is sent in a message from the database of embedded device information to the message store and transmit component and then from the message store and transmit component to the embedded device;

an information collection manager for searching the computer network and for accessing and obtaining updated embedded device information from a plurality of information providers via the computer network, wherein the updated embedded device information obtained from the computer network comprises updated computer program code, and wherein the service provider communicates with the plurality of information providers via the computer network and sends the updated computer program code to the embedded device causing computer program code on the embedded device to be updated, wherein the embedded device does not communicate directly with the information providers; and

a database interface module for accessing the service information in the service information database.

20. The service provider of claim 19 further comprising schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and wherein the schedule data is being used to control monitoring of the embedded devices.

21. The service provider of claim 20 wherein the service provider controls an embedded device by periodically sending control data to computer program code loaded on the embedded device to affect operation of the embedded device, wherein the periodic sending is based on the schedule data, and wherein the control data is sent from the service provider to the message store and transmit component and is then sent by the message store and transmit component to the embedded device.

22. The service provider of claim 19 wherein the service provider obtains from the message store and transmit component a device description, the device description having previously been sent from the embedded device to the message store and transmit component.

23. The service provider of claim 22 wherein the device description is selected from the group consisting of functions, variables, data types, events and files.

24. The service provider of claim 19 wherein the service provider monitors an embedded device by periodically obtaining from the message store and transmit component interface data that was previously sent from the embedded device to the message store and transmit component, and wherein the service provider stores the interface data on the storage device.

25. The service provider of claim 24 wherein the service provider stores monitoring data created from the interface data received and wherein the service provider further provides the monitoring data to a requestor through the computer network.

26. The service provider of claim 19 further comprising an embedded device communications module that handles the communications with the message store and transmit component.

27. The service provider of claim 19 wherein the embedded device information database includes a plurality of capabilities tables.

28. A method for providing service to a plurality of embedded devices, the method comprising:

providing electronic communications between a service provider for embedded devices and a communications network;

receiving a communication via the communications network from the message store and transmit component which contains information that was previously sent to the message store and transmit component by an embedded device, and wherein an embedded device is not a desktop computer;

identifying the embedded device that sent the information to the message store and transmit component;

accessing an embedded device information database;

sending a message via the communications network from the service provider to the message store and transmit component which contains information that is later sent by the message store and transmit component to the embedded device, wherein the message comprises updated computer program code, and wherein the database updated computer program code is obtained from a plurality of information providers, wherein the service provider communicates with the plurality of information providers via the computer network, and wherein the service provider sends the updated computer program code to the embedded device causing computer program code on the embedded device to be updated, wherein the embedded device does not communicate directly with the information providers; and

storing device information descriptive of a transaction.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

periodically obtaining interface data sent from computer program code loaded on the embedded device to the message store and transmit component and then later sent by the message store and transmit component to the provider; and

storing the interface data on a storage device.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising providing the interface data to a requestor through the computer network.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising collecting updated information from the computer network relating to embedded devices.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising linking certain information in the embedded device information database to certain updated information.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising parsing the message received from the message store and transmit component to obtain an embedded device identifier.

34. The method of claim 28 further comprising monitoring the plurality of embedded devices based on schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and routing data, the schedule data being used to control monitoring of the plurality of embedded devices.

35. The method of claim 28 further comprising obtaining a device description from computer program code loaded on the embedded device.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising sending control data to the message store and transmit component, which in turn, send this control data to computer program code loaded on the embedded device, the control data being configured to affect operation of the embedded device, and wherein the periodic sending is based on schedule data.

37. A system for providing services to embedded devices comprising:

one or more service providers for embedded devices, wherein each service provider for embedded devices comprises;

a computer, the computer including communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the computer also including a storage device;

a database;

a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network, the computer network communication module being configured to communicate via the computer network with a message store and transmit component, wherein the message store and transmit component communicates with one or more embedded devices through the computer network, and wherein an embedded device is not a desktop computer, wherein the service providers provide information to the one or more embedded devices via a message being sent to the message store and transmit component and another message being sent from the message store and transmit component to the embedded device; and

a database interface module for accessing the information in the database; and

a central provider in electronic communication with the plurality of service providers for embedded devices, the central provider operating to provide communications between embedded devices and service providers for embedded devices, and to coordinate collecting updated information from the computer network relating to embedded devices, and to coordinate disseminating the updated information to embedded devices, wherein the updated information comprises updated computer program code, wherein the updated computer program code is obtained from a plurality of information providers, wherein the service provider communicates with the plurality of information providers via the computer network, and wherein the service provider sends the updated computer program code to the embedded devices, wherein the updated computer program causes computer program code on the embedded device to be updated, wherein the embedded device does not communicate directly with the information providers.