Achieving a uniform device abstraction layer

• US 8,996,749 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Candi Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Raschke, Steve, Anderson, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): SUN, SCOTT C
• Application Number:
  US13/481,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/11
• 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 achieving a uniform device abstraction layer is described. The system includes a device class determiner coupled with a local server, the device class determiner configured for establishing a device class for at least one device residing in a domain at a premises, wherein the domain is coupled with a remote server, and a device of the at least one device includes a communication port that supports a first protocol corresponding to a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is supported by a device driver coupled with the domain, wherein based on the establishing the device class, an action is enabled to be mapped to the device, thereby enabling an application to run on and utilize a capability of the device.

Claims

1. A system for achieving a uniform device abstraction layer, said system comprising:

a device class determiner coupled with a local server, said device class determiner configured for establishing a device class for at least one device residing in a domain at a premises, wherein said domain is coupled with a remote server, and a device of said at least one device comprises a communication port that supports a first protocol corresponding to a second protocol, wherein said second protocol is supported by a device driver coupled with said domain,

wherein based on said establishing said device class, an action is enabled to be mapped to said device, thereby enabling an application to run on and utilize a capability of said device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a threshold notifier coupled with said device class determiner, said threshold notifier configured for notifying an entity when a threshold is achieved.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an updated information requester coupled with said device class determiner, said updated information requester configured for requesting updated information from said remote server.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data receiver coupled with said device class determiner, said data receiver configured for receiving data from an external source.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a data storer coupled with said data receiver, said data storer configured for storing said data in a local database coupled with said local server.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a data comparer coupled with said data receiver, said data comparer configured for comparing received data with a local database; and

a data set determiner coupled with said data comparer, said data set determiner configured for determining a set of data that meets a predetermined condition based on said comparing.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a history reporter coupled with said data receiver, said history reporter configured for reporting a history of received data.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a trend projector coupled with said data receiver, said trend projector configured for projecting a future trend based on received data.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a recommendation generator coupled with said device class determiner, said recommendation generator configured for generating a recommendation for a subscriber based on data stored in a local database, wherein said local database is coupled with said local server.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said recommendation generator comprises:

a data analyzer configured for analyzing said data stored in said local database.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an action initiator coupled with said device class determiner, said action initiator configured for initiating an action to achieve a predetermined criteria.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a subscriber data receiver coupled with said device class determiner, said subscriber data receiver configured for receiving data associated with different subscribers'"'"' actions; and

an action comparor coupled with said subscriber data receiver, said action comparor configured for comparing said different subscribers'"'"' actions with each other based on received data.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a subscriber data receiver coupled with said device class determiner, said subscriber data receiver configured for receiving data associated with different subscribers'"'"' actions; and

a subscriber grouper coupled with said subscriber data receiver, said subscriber grouper configured for grouping subscribers based on received data.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a subscriber data receiver coupled with said device class determiner, said subscriber data receiver configured for receiving data associated with different subscribers'"'"' actions; and

a subscriber manager coupled with said subscriber data receiver, said subscriber manager configured for utilizing received data for managing at least one subscriber.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a web service accessor coupled with said device class determiner, said web service accessor configured for accessing a web service that requires a permission; and

a subscriber information comparor coupled with said web service accessor, said subscriber information comparor configured for comparing a subscriber'"'"'s information with information associated with at least one third party.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a registration processor coupled with said device class determiner, said registration processor configured for processing registration of at least one subscriber.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secure subscriber tunnel initiator, coupled with said local server, said tunnel initiator configured for, in response to a request from a subscriber to said local server to remotely access said premises, negotiating between said local server and said remote server a subscriber communication tunnel such that said subscriber can securely, remotely and directly connect to said remote server and run said application.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third party tunnel initiator, such that said third party can send data to said application.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a device discovery module coupled with said local server, said device discovery module configured for automatically discovering a device of said at least one device at said premises.

20. 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 achieving a uniform device abstraction layer, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a device class for at least one device residing in a domain of a premises, wherein said domain is coupled with a remote server, and a device of said at least one device comprises a communication port that supports a first protocol corresponding to a second protocol, wherein said second protocol is supported by a device driver coupled with said domain; and

based on said establishing of said device class, enabling a mapping of at least one action to said device, thereby enabling an application to run on and utilize a capability of said device.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising:

based on said establishing of said device class, enabling multiple applications to be built uniformly, using said mapping of said at least one action.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

based on performed data analysis, notifying an entity when a threshold is achieved.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving data from an external source.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises:

storing said data in a local database coupled with a local server.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises:

comparing received data with a local database; and

based on said comparing, determining a set of data that meets a predetermined criteria.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises:

reporting a history of received data.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein said method further comprises:

based on received data, projecting a future trend.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

based on data stored in a local database coupled with a local server, generating a recommendation for a subscriber.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said generating a recommendation for a subscriber comprises:

analyzing said data stored in said local database.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

initiating an action to achieve a predetermined condition.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving data associated with different subscribers'"'"' actions; and

based on received data, comparing said different subscribers'"'"' actions with each other.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving data associated with different subscribers'"'"' actions; and

based on received data, grouping subscribers.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

accessing a web service requiring a permission; and

comparing a subscriber'"'"'s information with information associated with at least one third party.

34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving data associated with at least one subscriber; and

managing said at least one subscriber.

35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said establishing said device class for said least one device residing in said domain comprises:

establishing a device class for similar devices in said domain that operates with different protocol versions and different actions.

36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said establishing said device class for said at least one device residing in said domain comprises:

establishing a device class for different devices implementing different actions over a same protocol.

37. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said based on said establishing, said enabling a mapping of an action to a device comprises:

enabling integrating of web-based services within said application.