Updating a domain based on device configuration within the domain and remote of the domain

• US 9,237,183 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• 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:
  US13/481,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 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 maintaining a domain in a premises, wherein the domain is coupled with a remote server, is disclosed. The system includes an instruction receiver; a secure connection establisher for establishing a secure connection between the local and remote server; a data exchange module for exchanging device configuration information between the local and the remote server; and an updating module for updating an application and device configuration information. The instruction receiver receives a set of instructions relating to managing the domain, wherein the set of instructions comprises a complete set of instructions associated with said managing a configuration of the domain such that the domain functions according to the complete set of instructions without any further communication necessary between the remote server with the local server until a change in the domain occurs, wherein the change requires an update to the remote server and components coupled therewith.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining a domain in a premises, wherein said domain is coupled with a remote server, said system comprising:

an instruction receiver coupled with a local server of said domain and positioned remotely from said domain, 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 in said domain requires an update to said remote server and said local server and components coupled therewith, wherein said domain comprises;

at least one device, a device of said at least one device having a capability of supporting a functioning of an action, wherein said action comprises running a third party application on a specified device,

wherein said specified device is characterized as being part of a device class,

wherein said third party application is requested to be run on said device in said domain,

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 implements on any device of said device class using a particular device driver,

wherein said device comprises a communication port and is defined by a physical communication method and a first protocol operating on said communication port, wherein said first protocol supports a first protocol that supports said functioning of said action on said specified device, wherein a realization of said capability depends on a discovery by said system of a device driver, wherein said device driver comprises a second protocol that at least substantially supports said functioning of said action and an implementation of said device driver;

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, wherein said secure connection establisher provides said secure connection for a domain sync transaction, wherein said domain sync transaction comprises compiling necessary device drivers and applications for downloading to said local 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, wherein said device configuration information comprises information on protocols being supported by communication ports disposed on said at least one device, wherein said data exchange module is further configured for, during said domain sync transaction, checking completeness of said configuration of said domain;

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

a device driver manager coupled with said local server, said device driver manager configured for at least one of adding and removing a device driver to accommodate a change made to said domain.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said updating module is further configured for updating a second database coupled with said local server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said updating module further comprises:

a preload file creator coupled with said local server, said preload file creator configured for creating preload files for said application.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a code downloader coupled with said local server, said code downloader configured for downloading code to said remote server.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a task instructor coupled with said local server, said task instructor configured for instructing, by said local server, said remote server to perform a task.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror image provider coupled with said local server, said mirror image provider configured for providing a mirror image of an application managed at said remote server, wherein said mirror image is accessible to a subscriber over a wide area network via said mirror image.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a device modifier coupled with said local server, said device modifier configured for facilitating a change in said domain by changing a status of said at least one device.

8. 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 maintaining a domain in a premises, wherein said domain is coupled with a remote server, said method comprising:

receiving a set of instructions at a local server, wherein said set of instructions requests that a change occur in said domain, wherein said change in said domain requires an update to said remote server and said local server, wherein said domain comprises at least one device, a device of said at least one device having a capability of supporting a functioning of an action, wherein said action comprises running a third party application on a specified device,

wherein said specified device is characterized as being part of a device class,

wherein said third party application is requested to be run on said device in said domain,

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 implements on any device of said device class using a particular device driver,

wherein said device comprises a communication port and is defined by a physical communication method and a first protocol operating on said communication port, wherein said first protocol supports a first protocol that supports said functioning of said action on said specified device, wherein a realization of said capability depends on a discovery by said system of a device driver, wherein said device driver comprises a second protocol that at least substantially supports said functioning of said action and an implementation of said device driver;

establishing a secure connection between said local server and said remote server, wherein said secure connection is provided for a domain sync transaction, wherein said domain sync transaction comprises compiling necessary device drivers and applications for downloading to said local server;

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

exchanging device configuration information between said local server and said remote server, wherein said device configuration information comprises information on protocols being supported by communication ports disposed on said at least one device, wherein a communication port of said communication ports supports said first protocol that supports said functioning of said action;

during said domain sync transaction, checking completeness of said configuration of said domain; and

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

managing a device driver on said premises to accommodate a change made to said domain, wherein said managing comprises;

at least one of adding and removing a device driver to accommodate said change made to said domain.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said set of instructions comprises a complete set of instructions associated with 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 and said local server until a change in said domain occurs, wherein said change requires an update to said remote server and components coupled therewith.

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

based on said exchanging, updating a second database coupled with said local server.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said updating a second database coupled with said local server comprises:

archiving, at said local server, said device configuration information.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said updating a second database coupled with said local server comprises:

creating preload files for said application.

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

indicating a successful update to said at least one device.

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

providing a mirror image of an application managed at said remote server, wherein said application is accessible to a subscriber over a wide area network via said mirror image.

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

receiving by said local server from said remote server a local IP address of said domain.

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

facilitating said change in said domain by changing a status of said at least one device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said exchanging configuration information between said local server and said remote server comprises:

uploading, from said remote server, device log data.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said exchanging configuration information between said local server and said remote server comprises:

uploading, from said remote server, device activity information.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said updating said application comprises:

downloading code to said local server.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said updating comprises:

instructing, by said local server, said remote server to perform a task.