Enabling customized functions to be implemented at a domain

• US 8,812,644 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Candi Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Mike, Raschke, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAO HONG
• Application Number:
  US13/481,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 700/90, 710/4
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• 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 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A system for enabling a customized function to be implemented at at least one device in a domain, including: a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) coupled with a system, wherein the system is coupled with a server managing a premises, wherein the system is configured for interacting with at least one third party application that has a set of instructions thereon, via the set of APIs, such that the at least one third party application can communicate with a device driver at the premises without having knowledge of a protocol thereon and without having knowledge of the at least one device, wherein the premises comprises the at least one device; and an instruction translator coupled with the set of APIs which translates the set of instructions received from the at least one third party application to be an action and protocol that the at least one device understands.

Claims

1. A system for converting aspects of a developed third party application downloaded onto at least one device located at a domain of a premises into descriptions of actions and protocols that said at least one device understands, wherein said system includes a customized function for said developed third party application to be implemented at said at least one device, said system comprising:

a server;

a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) coupled with said server, said set of APIs configured for providing building blocks for development of said at least one third party application, and wherein each API of said set of APIs comprises;

a set of selectable widgets, wherein upon a selection of a selectable widget of said set of selectable widgets, said selectable widget appears in said at least one third party application, wherein said selectable widget is a predesigned user interface element that is enabled to be integrated within said at least one third party application to provide user information and enable user interaction through said at least one third party application via a communication port via a device driver of a device of said at least one device, wherein said device driver supports a second protocol that corresponds to a first protocol supported by said communication port; and

an instruction translator coupled with said server, said instruction translator configured for translating said set of instructions at said at least one third party application to be a description of at least one requested action and a protocol that said device understands, wherein said at least one requested action relates to running said at least one third party application on said at least one device, wherein said instruction translator comprises;

an instruction analyzer configured for;

comparing a particular device to which said set of instructions is to be applied with said at least one device within said domain; and

based on said comparing, determining a designated device of said at least one device that is able to perform said at least one requested action of said set of instructions; and

an instruction sender coupled with said server, wherein said instruction sender is configured for sending translated instructions to said designated device for implementation by said designated device, whereby said at least one third party application is developed for said at least one device, without developing specific programs thereon to match protocol requirements of said at least one device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction manager coupled with the application, said instruction manager being configured for managing a performance of an object of said set of instructions.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a performance indicator coupled with the application, said performance indicator being configured for providing an indication of when said at least one requested action has been performed.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a library coupled with said application, said library configured for managing, sending and receiving of said at least one requested action.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said library comprises:

a subscription manager configured for managing a subscription to an action of said at least one requested action.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said library comprises:

an action administrator configured for administering a list of actions.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said library comprises:

a user access manager configured for managing user access to said set of selectable widgets.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said selectable widget comprises:

an interactive object.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform a method for converting aspects of a developed third party application downloaded onto at least one device located at a domain of a premises into descriptions of actions and protocols that said at least one device understands, wherein a customized function for said developed third party application is enabled to be implemented at said at least one device, wherein said method comprises:

receiving, at a server located at said premises, a set of instructions that resides on at least one third party application, wherein said set of instructions comprises at least one requested action to be performed at said at least one device, wherein said at least one requested action relates to running said at least one third party application on said at least one device; and

translating said set of instructions into a description of an action request and a protocol that said at least one device understands, such that said at least one third party application can communicate with a device driver located at said domain without having knowledge of a protocol on said device driver and without having knowledge of said at least one device, wherein a device of said at least one device is coupled with said server and comprises a communication port that supports a first protocol corresponding to a second protocol, wherein said second protocol is supported by said device driver, wherein said translating comprises;

comparing a particular device to which said set of instructions is to be applied with said at least one device within said domain; and

based on said comparing, determining a designated device of said at least one device that is able to perform said at least one requested action of said set of instructions; and

sending translated instructions to said designated device for implementation by said designated device, whereby said at least one third party application is developed for said at least one device using building blocks provided by a set of application programming interfaces (APIs), wherein each API of said set of APIs comprises;

a set of selectable widgets, wherein upon a selection of a selectable widget of said set of selectable widgets, said selectable widget appears in said at least one third party application, wherein said selectable widget is a predesigned user interface element that is enabled to be integrated within said at least one third party application to provide user information and enable user interaction through said at least one third party application via a communication via said device driver of said device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

providing an indication of when said requested action has been performed.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

managing sending and receiving of said requested action via a library.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said managing sending and receiving of said requested action via said library comprises:

managing a subscription to an action of said at least one requested action.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said managing sending and receiving of said requested action via said library comprises:

administering a list of actions.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said managing sending and receiving of said requested action via said library comprises:

managing user access to a list of actions.