Discovering device drivers within a domain of a premises

• US 9,231,997 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• 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): Nguyen, Dustin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAO HONG
• Application Number:
  US13/481,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224, 719/321, 719/327
• 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 managing a domain in a premises is described. The system includes: an action identifier coupled with a server, the action identifier identifies an action to be mapped to a device of the at least one device, wherein the device comprises a communication port that supports a first protocol; a device driver determiner coupled with the server, the device driver determiner determines a device driver that supports a second protocol, wherein the second protocol supports the action; a comparer coupled with the server, the comparer compares the second protocol with a domain configuration store comprising device configuration information for the at least one device; and a device driver implementer coupled with the server, the device driver implementer implements, based on the comparing, the device driver when the first protocol corresponds to the second protocol such that the action is enabled for performance.

Claims

1. A system for automatically mapping an action requested to be performed on a specified device of at least one device in a domain, wherein said specified device is characterized as being part of a device class, wherein said system comprises:

a processor;

a memory;

an action identifier coupled with a computer, said action identifier being also coupled with a server, said action identifier configured for identifying an action to be performed on said specified device, wherein said action comprises running a third party application on said specified device,

wherein said third party application is built with a predetermined generic language specific to said device class such that said third party application is enabled to be implemented on any device of said device class using a particular device driver,

wherein said particular device driver is determined by said system to support a second protocol, wherein said second protocol supports said functioning of said action on said specified device,

wherein said particular device driver is preconfigured to receive said predetermined generic language specific to said device class and convert said predetermined generic language specific to said device class to a set of commands understandable by said specified device, wherein said specified device comprises a communication port,

wherein said communication port is defined by a physical communication method and a first protocol operating on said communication port, wherein said first protocol supports a functioning of said action on said specified device;

a comparer coupled with said computer, said comparer being also coupled with said server, said comparer configured for comparing said first protocol with a domain configuration store, wherein said domain configuration store comprises device configuration information for said at least one device, wherein said device configuration information comprises;

information on protocols being supported by communication ports of said at least one device; and

information on protocols being supported by device drivers coupled with said at least one device, wherein said information on protocols being supported by device drivers comprises field-determined information that relates to a configuration of a communication port of said at least one device;

a device driver determiner coupled with said computer, said device driver determiner being also coupled with said server, said device driver determiner configured for, based on said comparing, determining which device driver, that is coupled with devices of said device class, supports a second protocol, wherein said second protocol supports said functioning of said action on said specified device; and

a device driver implementer coupled with said computer, said device driver implementer being also coupled with said server, said device driver implementer configured for, based on said determining which device driver supports said second protocol, implementing said device driver to perform said action on said specified device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a gateway module coupled with said computer, said gateway module being also coupled with said server, said gateway module configured for managing an application, wherein said application controls said at least one device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data tracker coupled with said computer, said data tracker being also coupled with said server, said data tracker configured for tracking data associated with said at least one device.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a data sender coupled with said computer, said data sender being also coupled with said data tracker, said data sender configured for sending tracked data to a remote location.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said physical communication method is coupled with a legacy device, such that said legacy device is compatible with a functioning of said system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a device searching module coupled with said computer, said device searching module being also coupled with said server, said device searching module configured for discovering a device of said at least one device on a premises.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a device notifier coupled with said computer, said device notifier being also coupled with said device searching module, said device notifier configured for notifying a subscriber of a discovered device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said computer, cause said computer to perform a method for automatically mapping an action requested to be performed on a specified device of at least one device in a domain, wherein said specified device is characterized as being part of a device class, said method comprising:

identifying an action to be performed on said specified device, wherein said action comprises running a third party application, wherein said action comprises running a third party application on said specified device,

wherein said third party application is built with a predetermined generic language specific to said device class such that said third party application is enabled to be implemented on any device of said device class using a particular device driver,

wherein said particular device driver is determined by said system to support a second protocol, wherein said second protocol supports said functioning of said action on said specified device,

wherein said particular device driver is preconfigured to receive said predetermined generic language specific to said device class and convert said predetermined generic language specific to said device class to a set of commands understandable by said specified device,

wherein said specified device comprises a communication port,

wherein said communication port is defined by a physical communication method and a first protocol operating on said communication port, wherein said first protocol supports a functioning of said action on said specified device;

comparing said first protocol with a domain configuration store, wherein said domain configuration store comprises device configuration information for said at least one device, wherein said device configuration information comprises;

information on protocols being supported by communication ports of said at least one device; and

information on protocols being supported by device drivers coupled with said at least one device, wherein said information on protocols being supported by device drivers comprises field-determined information that relates to a configuration of a communication port of said at least one device;

based on said comparing, determining which device driver, that is coupled with devices of said device class, supports a second protocol, wherein said second protocol also supports said functioning of said action on said specified device; and

based on said determining which device driver supports said second protocol, implementing said device driver to perform said action on said specified device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

populating said at least one device;

editing said at least one device; and

tracking data for said at least one device, wherein tracked data comprises;

device configuration information; and

usage data.

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

uploading tracked data to a remote location.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

reporting data for said at least one device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

actuating said action based on one of a user input and at least one predetermined condition.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting pre-categorized content from available sources by hierarchy, wherein said available sources reside within an accessible network.