Discovering device drivers within a domain of a premises

• US 9,160,785 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• 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): Vostal, O. C.
• Application Number:
  US13/481,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 integrating a networked device into a domain is described and includes: a network operation control coupled with a local server and including a device class determiner for establishing a device class for at least one device residing in a domain at a premises, 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 said device; and a domain manager coupled with a remote server and the network operation control, the domain manager including, coupled with the remote server: an action identifier; a device driver determiner; a comparer; and a device driver implementer for, based on comparing by the comparer, implementing a device driver associated with the device when a first protocol corresponds to a second protocol such that the action is enabled for performance.

Claims

1. A system for integrating a networked device into a domain, said system comprising:

a network operations control coupled with a local server, said network operations control comprising;

a device class determiner coupled with said 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 at least one device is preconfigured to include characteristics recognizable for organization into a device class, wherein said device class represents a designation of products having similar functions, said products being grouped together as a type of device, 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 said device driver is preconfigured to support a set of actions possible to be implemented through said device, using at least said second protocol and an implementer coupled to said device driver to implement said set of actions,

wherein based on said establishing said device class, an action of said set of actions is enabled to be mapped to said device, thereby enabling, in response to a command for a set of actions to be applied to more than one device of different brands within said device class, said set of actions to run on and utilize a capability of said more than one device without having to tailor said command for each device of said more than one device of different brands; and

a domain manager coupled with a remote server and said network operations control, said domain manager comprising;

an action identifier coupled with said remote server, said action identifier configured for identifying an action of said set of actions to be mapped to said device, wherein said action is associated with running a third party application that is requested to be run on said device, wherein said device is capable of supporting a functioning of said action, as said device comprises said communication port supporting said first protocol that supports said functioning of said action, wherein a realization of said capability depends on a discovery, by said domain manager, of said device driver that supports said second protocol, wherein said second protocol at least substantially supports said functioning of said action and an implementation of said device driver;

a device driver determiner, said device driver determiner configured for determining said device driver;

a comparer configured for comparing said second protocol with a domain configuration store comprising device configuration information for said at least one device, wherein said device configuration information comprises information on protocols being supported by communication ports disposed on said at least one device; and

a device driver implementer configured for, based on said comparing, implementing said device driver, wherein said implementing comprises a designation that said action is to be performed using said device driver supporting said second protocol, wherein said second protocol also supports said functioning of said action, such that said action associated with running said third party application may be performed;

a database accessor coupled with said local server, said database accessor configured for accessing a second database, wherein said second database comprises information associated with a set of premises;

an information analyzer coupled with said database accessor, said information analyzer configured for analyzing said information; and

a customized message sender coupled with said information analyzer, said customized message sender configured for sending a generated customized message to a subscriber at said set of premises, wherein said subscriber is a person and said customized message is a message tailored for said subscriber to be viewed by said subscriber, and wherein said customized message comprises notifications that are sent to said subscriber, by at least one of a provider and a manufacturer, when a certain event occurs that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein each premises of said set of premises comprises;

said domain; and

said at least one device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication manager coupled with said network operations control and said domain manager, said communication manager comprising;

an instruction receiver coupled with a local server, said instruction receiver configured for receiving a set of instructions relating to managing said domain, wherein said set of instructions comprises a complete set of instructions associated with said managing a configuration of said domain such that said domain functions according to said complete set of instructions without any further communication necessary between said remote server with said local server until a change in said domain occurs, wherein said change requires an update to said remote server and components coupled therewith;

a secure connection establisher coupled with said instruction receiver, said secure connection establisher configured for establishing a secure connection between said local server and said remote server;

a data exchange module coupled with said secure connection establisher, said data exchange module configured for exchanging device configuration information between said local server and said remote server; and

an updating module coupled with said data exchange module, said updating module configured for, based on said exchanging, updating an application residing on at least one of said remote server and a computing device that is separate from said remote server and updating device configuration information stored on said first database coupled with said remote server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said updating module is further configured for updating said second database that is coupled with said local server.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a gateway module coupled with said device driver implementer, said gateway module configured for managing an application, wherein said application controls said at least one device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data manager coupled with said device driver implementer, said data manager configured for sending and receiving data associated with said at least one device.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

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

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 said subscriber based on data stored in a local database, wherein said local database is coupled with said local server.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) coupled with a system, wherein said system is coupled with said remote server, wherein said system is configured for interacting with at least one third party application that has a set of instructions thereon, via said set of APIs, such that said at least one third party application can communicate with said device driver without having knowledge of a protocol thereon and without having knowledge of said at least one device; and

an instruction translator coupled with said set of APIs, said instruction translator configured for translating said set of instructions received from said at least one third party application to be an action and protocol that said at least one device understands.

11. 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 integrating a networked device into a domain, said method comprising:

establishing, at a local server, a device class for at least one device residing in a domain of a premises, wherein said at least one device is preconfigured to include characteristics recognizable for organization into a device class, wherein said device class represents a designation of products having similar functions, said products being grouped together as a type of device, wherein said domain is coupled with a remote server and 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 said device driver is preconfigured to support a set of actions possible to be implemented through said device, using at least said second protocol and an implementer coupled to said device driver to implement said set of actions;

based on said establishing of said device class, enabling a mapping of said set of actions to be mapped to said device, thereby enabling, in response to a command for a set of actions to be applied to more than one device of different brands within said device class, said set of actions to run on and utilize a capability of said more than one device without having to tailor said command for each device of said more than one device of different brands;

identifying an action of said set of actions to be mapped to said device, wherein said action is associated with running a third party application that is requested to be run on said device, wherein said device is capable of supporting a functioning of said action, as said device comprises said communication port supporting said first protocol that supports said functioning of said action, wherein a realization of said capability depends on a discovery, by said domain manager, of said device driver that supports said second protocol, wherein said second protocol at least substantially supports said functioning of said action and an implementation of said device driver;

determining a device driver;

comparing said second protocol with a domain configuration store comprising device configuration information for said at least one device, wherein said domain configuration store is coupled with a first database, said first database being coupled with said remote server, and wherein said device configuration information comprises information on protocols being supported by communication ports disposed on said at least one device;

based on said comparing, implementing said device driver, wherein said implementing comprises a designation that said action is to be performed using said device driver supporting said second protocol, wherein said second protocol also supports said functioning of said action, such that said action associated with running said third party application may be performed;

accessing a second database, wherein said second database comprises information associated with a set of premises;

analyzing said information; and

sending a generated customized message to a subscriber at said set of premises, wherein said subscriber is a person and said customized message is a message tailored for said subscriber to be viewed by said subscriber, and wherein said customized message comprises notifications that are sent to said subscriber, by at least one of a provider and a manufacturer, when a certain event occurs that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein each premises of said set of premises comprises;

said domain; and

said at least one device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a set of instructions at said local server, wherein said set of instructions requests that a change occurs in said domain;

establishing a secure connection between said local server and said remote server;

communicating said request for said change between said local server and said remote server;

exchanging configuration information between said local server and said remote server; and

based on said request and said exchanging, updating an application residing on at least one of said remote server and a computing device that is separate from said remote server and updating device configuration information stored on said first database coupled with said remote server.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising:

updating said second database that is coupled with said local server.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

storing, at said second database coupled with said local server, information associated with a set of premises.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

managing an application by a gateway module coupled with said remote server, wherein said application controls said at least one device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

managing, by said remote server, data associated with said at least one device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said local server, data from an external source.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:

storing received data in said second database coupled with said local server.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

generating a recommendation for a subscriber based on data stored in said second database.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a set of instructions residing on at least one third party application, wherein said set of instructions comprises a request for an action to be performed at said at least one device within said domain coupled with said premises; and

translating said set of instructions into 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 said device driver at said premises without having knowledge of a protocol thereon and without having knowledge of said at least one device.