Controlling devices using cloud services and device-agnostic pipe mechanisms
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A service system comprising:
- a plurality of service modules configured to provide services to control a plurality of target devices;
a controlled device interface module configured to allow the target devices to interact with the services via a plurality of pipe mechanisms that control the target devices;
a user device interface module configured to allow a plurality of user devices to interact with the services; and
one or more computer devices configured to execute the plurality of service modules, the controlled device interface module, and the user device interface module,wherein the service system is accessible to the pipe mechanisms via a wide area network,wherein the controlled device interface module is further configured to control a first target device by communicating with a first pipe mechanism according to a first communication class and to control a second target device by communicating with a second pipe mechanism according to a second communication class.
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Abstract
An environment is described in which a cloud-implemented service system controls a plurality of target devices via a plurality of respective device-agnostic pipe mechanisms. The target devices themselves may represent “dumb” devices, e.g., lacking local control logic, or providing reduced reliance on local control logic. Users may interact with the service system via applications running on any type of user devices.
57 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A service system comprising:
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a plurality of service modules configured to provide services to control a plurality of target devices; a controlled device interface module configured to allow the target devices to interact with the services via a plurality of pipe mechanisms that control the target devices; a user device interface module configured to allow a plurality of user devices to interact with the services; and one or more computer devices configured to execute the plurality of service modules, the controlled device interface module, and the user device interface module, wherein the service system is accessible to the pipe mechanisms via a wide area network, wherein the controlled device interface module is further configured to control a first target device by communicating with a first pipe mechanism according to a first communication class and to control a second target device by communicating with a second pipe mechanism according to a second communication class. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A pipe mechanism comprising:
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a multi-mode service interface mechanism configured to selectively communicate with a remote service system according to different respective communication classes, wherein; the different respective communication classes include a first communication class and a second communication class, and the remote service system has at least one service that is configured to provide control instructions to the pipe mechanism; a device interface mechanism configured to interact with a target device; and a processing module having circuitry configured to control the target device based at least on the control instructions received from the remote service system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing a service system implemented by one or more servers, the service system providing a plurality of service modules implemented by one or more processing devices of the one or more servers, each service module providing a service; and controlling a plurality of target devices by sending instructions from one or more network interfaces of the one or more servers of the service system to a plurality of pipe mechanisms that cause the target devices to perform functions, the instructions being sent according to different communication classes including a first communication class and a second communication class, wherein the controlling comprises communicating with a first pipe mechanism according to the first communication class and communicating with a second pipe mechanism according to the second communication class. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification